The Mets offense really seems to be clicking, running on all cylinders, or whatever baseball-esque cliche you want to throw in there. The Mets beat up on the Reds, taking the first game of the day/night doubleheader by a score of 12-6.
Johan Santana made the start for the Mets, and seemed to struggle a bit. He allowed a career high 10 hits, but only allowed three runs. Santana walked only one while striking out five. Johan gave up three hits in the top of the first, but was helped out when Corey Patterson, who led off the game with a single, was thrown out while trying to steal second.
He's good. Even when he doesn't have his best stuff, and allows 10 hits, he still shuts a team down for only three runs. That's when you know he's good. People get on against him on a semi-off day, but he still limits the damage and keeps his team in the game.
The Mets got on the board early. In the bottom of the second inning, with Moises Alou on third and Brian Schneider on first, Santana struck out swinging. Fortunately for the Mets, the ball skipped away from David Ross, and Alou came home for the first run of the game.
I'll take it any way they can get it.
In the fourth, Carlos Beltran drove in Luis Castillo with an RBI single up the middle. One out later, Alou drove home two with a bloop single just beyond the infield dirt with the Reds infield playing in.
Crazy move by Dusty Baker playing the infield in there. It would have been an easy pop-up for Brandon Phillips at second, but with the infield in, it drops in for a two RBI hit.
In the top of the fourth, Santana allowed the first run of the game for the Reds when Edwin Encarnacion homered to left field. Alou made an attempt on it, but it was just out of his reach, bouncing off the front of the bleachers.
In the fifth, Beltran picked up another RBI with a sacrifice fly to center, driving in Castillo again. Ryan Church later singled to right, scoring David Wright from second base.
Beltran is getting hot. Watch out other teams, these Mets seem to be clicking.
Encarnacion added an RBI single in the 6th inning before Scott Hatteberg hit a pinch-hit single, plating the second run of the inning.
The Reds are pesky, but the Mets should be able to pick them apart, as we saw today. Let's hope they can match this in the nightcap.
With the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the sixth, Wright drew a walk, driving in Carlos Delgado. Beltran added to his huge day, picking up his first hit of the season with two out and runners in scoring position, as he smoked a ball down the right field line, driving in all three and earning him a stand-up triple as the ball died after hitting off the wall.
What to say? This team looks good. This lineup is absolutely overpowering when they're all hitting, or contributing in some way. I love it.
Aaron Heilman's 5 2-3 inning scoreless streak came to an end in the 7th as Joey Votto doubled in Ryan Freel.
And he was booed, mercilessly.
The bottom of the seventh saw the Mets pick up their first back-to-back home runs of the year as Delgado and Brian Schneider each went deep. Delgado crushed his ball just to the left of the Mets bullpen in right field. Schneider, picking up his first extra base hit of the year, lined a ball down the right field line, just clearing the fence.
Welcome to the club, Schneider. As Gary said, he's now "off the schnied." (pun intended)
Ken Griffey Jr. came within inches of his 598th home run of his career, as he doubled off the wall in the 8th inning against Pedro Feliciano, driving in two runs.
Jorge Sosa came in and walked one batter, but put up a hitless and scoreless inning to put the game away for the Mets.
Game Ball: Beltran.
