It is becoming increasingly difficult to follow R.A. Dickey – but Santana plays the part well in a 5-0 blanking of the Orioles.

Summary

Baltimore really caught us on a bad time, did they not? The team fired on all cylinders tonight – starting pitching, relief pitching, offense, defense, and a little confidence. Makes you wonder, does it not?

Johan started tonight and bounced back nicely for six shutout innings – 4 hits, 2 walks, and 5 k’s round out the line for our co-ace. I almost forgot this guy was coming back from a recent surgery. Johan and Dickey could be one of the more dangerous combos at the top of a rotation in baseball. Parnell, Batista, and Rauch combined for a scoreless final three innings, allowing just 1 hit and striking out 2. Wieters had 2 2Bs off Santana on the evening, but it did not amount to much, as the Orioles were held 0-9 with RISP.

Biggest blow for the Mets on offense (literally) goes to a Lucas Duda 2-run HR in the sixth, which put the Mets ahead 3-0. It barely cleared that new fence, but it was well-struck. Murphy got the Mets on the board with an RBI groundout in the fourth – and luckily, it would be all they needed. Valdespin gets some props for driving in 2 with 2 out. He and Duda had 2 hits on the day.

Hero Of The Game

Santana – I have said it before, this team plays with a different aura when he pitches well.

Notes

Seriously, RA Dickey. His last six starts: 0.18 ERA or something like that. Crazy.

Santana improves to 5 – 3 with a 3.00 ERA and Parnell picks up hold number 13.

I am being Captain Obvious here, but we have back to back shutouts. (I said this before! It must be a good season.)

…Man, it feels good to be a Mets fan lately.

On Deck

Well, the Mets.com site has failed me and is listing Johan Santana to start tomorrow again. Silly Wilpons, only Dickey or CJ Wilson can start on back-to-back days. I assume Gee or Niese will be tossed out there tomorrow to counter Brian Matusz in the series finale before the Evil Empire rolls into Queens.(Forgive me, I do not have the rotation order memorized. I would logically go Dickey-Santana-Niese-Gee-Hef but I am not sure if that is our order.) 7:10, dudes.