A combination of Chris Young and the bullpen held the Phillies to one run in fourteen innings, and Ronny Paulino made a big Mets debut, including the game winning hit and the Mets won the game in the fourteenth inning, 2-1.
Game Notes
Chris Young was lights out today, going seven quality innings while giving up two hits, walking three, striking out seven and allowing ZERO runs. What is more amazing is most columnists/bloggers figured Chris Young would cease effectiveness in the micro-park known as Citizens Bank, but outside of a Brian Schneider double, nothing was hit hard. He seemed to fatigue in the seventh when he walked two of his three batters and hit another. He was efficient for the whole game, and sadly due to lack of run support didn’t get the win.
The bullpen today was AMAZING overall. They would go seven innings, allowing one run, giving up five hits and three walks and only one run. That run was made possible by Jason Isringhausen issuing two walks and Tim Byrdak coming in to get Ryan Howard out, and having Howard hit an opposite field single that would score John Mayberry. The run was charged to Izzy, but Byrdak’s inability to be lights-out against lefties is leaving room to believe if he falters against lefties, the Mets may call up a lefty to see if he can be effective. K-Rod came out after Byrdak gave up the hit and would finish the inning. He would then come out for the ninth, and gave up two singles and struck out one in his one and one third innings of work. Pedro Beato came out and gave THREE quality innings in a 1-1 game, giving up two hits and striking out two. Beato may not strike out the world, but the man does not like walking batters, having walked three in seventeen innings. Taylor Buchholz came out, and pitched two quality innings, getting the win while allowing no hits and striking out two. Buchholz has looked much better as of late, and may be the steal of the offseason. That last pitch he struck Mayberry out on was nasty.
The bats today were great at producing hits, but atrocious at scoring them. The Mets stranded 32, yes 32 baserunners. Outside of the Carlos Beltran double that scored David Wright from first, the Mets couldn’t get runners across if their lives depended on it. This cannot occur if the Mets hope to win any games, and at any time the Mets could’ve had this game won in the early innings.
Ronny Paulino – 5 for 7 with an RBI in his first Mets start. Welcome to the team, Ronny.
David Wright – 3 for 6 with a walk, both Mets runs, a steal and a strikeout. Good outing for David, but its against a lefty so its expected.
Jose Reyes – 2 for 6 with a walk and two steals. Thats eight walks against 11 strikeouts and ten stolen bases. Lets go Jose.
Hu & Harris – strikeouts in pinch hitting appearances, both with runners on second. Sigh. Oh productive bench, where are you?
Ike Davis – 0 for 6 with a walk and two strikeouts, both looking. Major flyball that advanced David Wright in the 14th inning though.
The Mets drew seven walks and stole four bases. Only good things to come from that combination
Turning Point
The Mets 14th inning, getting hits off an obviously fatigued Kyle Kendrick.
Game Ball
Ronny Paulino/The bullpen. Paulino was on the entire game, and minus the Izzy/Byrdak eighth, the pen was stellar.
On Deck
The Mets will get a well deserved day off, and then travel back to Citi Field to open a series against the Giants on Tuesday. The Giants, as Yahoo is showing will be sending out Ryan Vogelsong and he will be going up against Mets legend/Internet Meme king R.A. Dickey. Game time is 7:10 P.M.
