We'll take that first place back, thank you very much.
Pitching Performance
I thought it was going to be a disaster night, a disaster outing for Johan Santana. I was pretty wrong, I guess. Santana got off to a rocky start, surrendering a two-run home run in the first inning to Ryan Howard. In the second, he let up a solo shot to Jayson Werth.
I honestly thought it was going downhill from there. But Santana did not falter. He ended pitching six innings, allowing only those three runs on six hits. He did struggle with his control, as he walked three batters, but still struck out six. Through his time on the bump, Santana had to throw 106 pitches, only 67 of which were strikes.
I even wrote a post about Santana after the first two innings. Good thing he recovered and pitched admirably for the next four innings. Well done, Johan. He will not be praised, but he earned his keep.
Brian Stokes pitched the seventh inning, allowing one hit and striking out two. Pedro Feliciano and Joe Smith split the 8th, working a perfect frame. Luis Ayala worked the ninth for his second save of the year.
Can you believe it?! Dance in the streets! The bullpen was handed a deficit and it turned into a lead! Where can I sign up for that?
Well done by those four. They bounced back from last night's loss and pitched like it never happened.
Offensive Output
The story of tonight was Carlos Delgado and a resurgence from the bats.
Delgado drove in the first run of the game with a single to right, chasing in Jose Reyes.
Delgado put up the second Mets run with a solo home run deeeeeeeeeeeeeeep to right field in the sixth inning.
Delgado drove in the third Mets run, himself, with another solo home run in the eighth inning. That Delgado blast tied the game for the Mets. They then got two runners on for Daniel Murphy. Murphy was 0-for his last-16, ended that stretch, lacing a double to right field that plated Beltran. Brian Schneider added a single to left, driving in two more in the Mets three-run eighth.
The Mets scored after the third inning? Seriously, WHAT?
Great job by Delgado. He loves that park, so much.
The Rest of the Story
Stokes earned his first win as a Met.
Reyes, Delgado and Beltran each picked up three hits.
David Wright went 0-5 with 2 K's.
Game Ball: Carlos Delgado.
