Jeez, and I thought the Pirates were bad.
Pitching Performance
Another leadoff solo home run against Pedro Martinez. Yunel Escobar hit another solo dinger off of Pedro's first pitch, his 39204772987 solo home run allowed in the last 10 games (Rough estimate). Pedro ended up throwing 7+ innings, allowing seven hits. He walked only one, and struck out six.
Martinez let in four earned runs, three of which came in the sixth inning. Brian McCann doubled in two runs to take the lead over the Mets, then Omar Infante singled in another in the sixth before Pedro worked out of it. He pitched a 1-2-3 seventh, and came out to start the eighth inning, but allowed a hit and was removed from the game.
Again, nothing spectacular, but he did his job, kept his team close and in the game. One of Pedro's poorer starts over the last few months, but I'll take this from him. He's inching toward the end of his career, but right now, looks like semi-vintage Pedro.
Question to Mets fans: Do you re-sign Pedro next year? For how long?
Pedro Feliciano replaced Martinez, allowing one hit and walking one, but benefitted from a very pretty 2-5-3 double play.
Luis Ayala pitched very admirably, throwing 1 1-3 innings, allowing only one hit. Ayala earned the win as the Mets pushed one across in the bottom half of the ninth inning.
So far, so good with Ayala. Maybe I was wrong about this trade...
Offensive Output
Carlos Delgado went 5-5 tonight, driving in three runs. Two of his hits probably should have been errors, but he'll take it and so will I.
Delgado got the Mets started in the bottom of the first, singling to center and driving in Jose Reyes. Delgado drove in the Mets second run in the third inning, singling again to center and driving in David Wright this time.
Those were his "real" hits. His "error hits" came later.
Wright added his own RBI, driving in, well, himself, with a solo home run deep to left field into the bleacher section.
Someone is getting hot, Mr. Wright. 3-4, 3 runs, RBI.
Here's where things get screwy. Bottom of the 8th, Nick Evans on second, Carlos Beltran on first, Delgado at the dish. Delgado bounces one to Infante at first, but Will Ohman failed to cover first. By the time Ohman got there, Infante had thrown the ball, which ended up going behind the sprinting pitcher. Evans came around to score, and tie up the game.
Move to the bottom of the ninth, same score. Wright doubles to right center with one out. The Braves decide to intentionally walk Beltran and pitch to Delgado, who at this point is 4-4. Makes little to no sense, I know. Delgado scorches one to left field, and Infante (yes, him again) streaks over and looks like he's going to make an easy catch and the line drive.
He must have lost it in the lights, as he ended up sliding, flailing and completely missing the ball. It actually bounced off of him, and skipped towards Mark Kotsay in centerfield. Wright was caught inbetween, but realized what happend and darted around third and took an unneccesary sliding headfirst dive into home to seal the win.
B-E-A-UTIFUL!
The Rest of the Story
This was the 27th consecutive one-run road loss for the Braves.
The Phillies lost to the Nationals, by a score of 4-3. Anderson Hernandez went 2-5, scored once and drove in one run. Funny that A-Hern aids the Nationals win over the Phillies, and Ayala works an inning and a third and earns the win for the Mets. This was all planned.
The Mets are 2.5 games up on the Phillies.
Game Ball: Carlos Delgado.
