The more things change, the more they stay the same.
The Mini Recap
The Mets were down by one heading into the top of the 9th inning. Jeremy Reed delivered with an RBI single to tie the game. Jorge Cantu ended the game in the bottom of the 9th with a single to left, scoring Emilio Bonifacio from second base.
On The Mound
The Mets should be encouraged by John Maine’s start. He allowed solo home runs in each of the first two innings, one to Hanley Ramirez and another to Dan Uggla, but nothing else. Maine needed 83 pitches to get through five innings and allowed only those two hits. He walked only one and struck out five.
With all the worry over Maine’s mechanics and issues this spring training, this is a good sign for the Mets.
Sean Green took over for the sixth inning and allowed three hits and a run to score. He struck out three in the inning. Bobby Parnell had some hard tonight. After two quick outs, a Bonifacio bunt and John Baker bloop led to an RBI single from Ramirez.
Just terrible luck for Parnell. A bunt and a bloop with two outs lead to a very crucial run.
J.J. Putz was the sole untouched pitcher, throwing one inning, allowing only one hit. Pedro Feliciano started the ninth inning, allowing a one out infield single to Bonifacio. He then got Baker to strike out before being removed for Darren O’Day. After issuing a walk to Ramirez, O’Day surrendered a single to left field. Bonifacio sped around from second base to score the game winner, with Daniel Murphy’s throw coming in too late to get the runner.
Poor O’Day. He’s really not having a good few days. Hopefully this doesn’t cost him his roster spot.
At The Plate
Leaving runners on base doomed the Mets again. They left 14 runners on base.
Anibel Sanchez shut out the Mets for all five innings he was on the mound. Carlos Beltran then greeted Dan Meyer with a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning. Beltran struck again in the seventh inning, grounding into a fielders choice with the bases loaded to drive in Murphy.
Beltran seems to love hitting in Dolphin Stadium, with a career .331 AVG with 33 RBI in 32 games in south Florida. He added to that with his three hit night tonight.
Fernando Tatis pinch hit with the bases loaded again in the seventh, and just missed getting all of a ball for a grand slam. Instead, he flew out to the warning track, allowing David Wright to score from third on his sacrifice fly.
In the top of the ninth, with the Mets trailing by one, Beltran and Church singled with one out off of Matt Lindstrom. After Ramon Castro fouled out, Reed came to the plate as the Mets last hope. He delivered by ripping a single to right field, allowing Beltran to trot around and tie the game.
Nice way to win over Mets fans, Reed. If he’s supposed to replace Endy Chavez, this is a good start. Church and Murphy also picked up three hits tonight.
Game Ball
Carlos Beltran: 3-5, 2 RBIs, 2 runs, 1 K.
On Deck
Livan Hernandez will face Ricky Nolasco tomorrow, with the game starting at 6:25 p.m. The game will not air on TV until 7:05 p.m. where it will be joined in progress.