Mets couldn’t get the sweep against the Tigers as they lose 6-5 despite a late inning rally. Mets fall back to .5 games behind the Braves.

Game Summary

Hisanori Takahashi started for the Mets and got roughed up by the Tigers early in his worst start of the season. Takahashi, who has had a great string of great starts, had trouble getting outs against Detroit. Some noticeable tactics that he was going for in the game that could have cost him are that he was trying too hard to pitch backwards and was trying to get his fastball up to 97 instead of hitting his spots like he normally does. Takahashi only recorded enough outs for 4 innings pitched, giving up six earned runs on eight hits and two homeruns. He walked four and struck out four as well. The lefty imported arm needs to bounce back in his next start or it could be back to the bullpen for him. Takahashi receives his third loss of the season.

Elmer Dessens enter the game in the fifth inning with the bases loaded and no outs. He starts it off immediately by walking in a run. He would allow two runs to cross the plate (both charged to Takahashi) before getting out of the fifth inning. He would stay in to pitch another inning only giving up one hit, one walk and struck out one batter in his two innings of work.

Parnell and Igarashi, both throwing some high heat, combined for two shutout innings. They had one hit, five strikeouts and one walk between them. Nice work boys! Nieve and Feliciano rounded out the ninth inning with two hits combined and one walk. This could have been a night the Mets would have used Valdes, if he hadn’t been sent down and replaced by Josh Thole who has yet to make an appearance in a game despite being called up twice already this season.

The offense started off slowly but fought their hardest to get back in the game. Mets were down 3-0 before getting anything going. This is not like the Mets of late. They usually score first in the early innings. The Mets did make a nice run for the lead in the sixth inning, scoring three runs and then another run in the seventh.

Angel Pagan was out of the game and his fill in for the night, Jesus Feliciano, had a nice three hit game. Two singles, a double, and two runs scored. Also made some nice plays in center that would make it on the Top 10 Plays list tomorrow.

David Wright would be the only other player to get a multi-hit night, but not where it counted most. He had many opportunities to either make the game closer or to tie the game up. He ended the night with two hits, a double, one RBI, one run scored to go with his two big strikeouts.

Reyes, Bay, Blanco, Tejada, and Carter all contributed with one hit each. Blanco started tonight with Barajas having woken up to a sore back.

Francoeur and Davis both had 0-fers along with a pair of pinch hitters, Cora & Tatis, both going 0-1.

Turning Point

Takahashi did not have his A-game tonight and the two homeruns really proved that.

Game Ball

Jesus Feliciano did a great job filling in center with Pagan healing. I still think Feliciano missed out on a big scoring opportunity, but can’t complain with a three hit night.

Up Next

Mike Pelfrey takes the mound for the Mets as he looks to be the first Met pitcher with ten wins. Mets will match up with the Twins who throw out Kevin Slowey who has recorded seven wins, but has a tendency to give up a lot of runs. Game time is 7:10 PM. Let’s Go Mets!