If there was a script the Mets had to follow for the first game of 2009, this game followed it exactly.
On The Mound
The Mets turned to Johan Santana for the second straight opening day, and he did not disappoint. Ninety-nine pitches later, 62 for strikes, Santana exited the game in the sixth inning. He allowed only three hits, walked four and struck out seven. Santana allowed the sole Reds run to score on a Brandon Phillips sac-fly in the bottom of the 6th inning.
Two of those walks came in the first inning, back to back. Santana needed 31 pitches but was able to wiggle out of the inning and pretty much settled in from there. In fact, Santana held the Reds hit-less until the bottom of the fourth inning when Jay Bruce drilled a ball to the left centerfield wall.
Jerry Manuel wasn't going to push Santana in the first game of the year. Santana was dealing, though he struggled with the walks a little. He got the outs when he needed to and that's all you can ask.
From there, the newcomers took over. Sean Green relieved Santana, getting a tough out with two on and two out. Edwin Encarnacion lined out to left field, ending the inning and the threat. Green came out for the seventh as well, inducing three ground balls for a quick inning.
Green looked confident on the mound and got a very key out in a very tough situation.
J.J. Putz came in for the 8th inning, as the Mets have planned since acquiring him in December. Putz walked one in his inning, but escaped otherwise unscathed. Francisco Rodriguez entered for the 9th inning in a one run game and did what the Mets are paying him for. He needed only 10 pitches to retire the Reds in order, striking out Ramon Hernandez to end the game.
Beautiful. As a Mets fan, I've been trained to worry late in games, so my heart was still in my throat when these two entered the game. They made it painless and easy and I couldn't be happier.
At The Plate
The lore of Daniel Murphy grows and grows.
Murphy picked up both RBIs for the Mets today, including hitting a solo home run off of Reds starter Aaron Harang in the top of the fifth inning. Murphy also grounded out to first base with the bases loaded the next inning, allowing Luis Castillo, who had doubled, to score the eventual game winning run.
A lot of people are very high on Murphy, and though I think he's going to be good, I'd like to see what he can do with a full season. Can't get a better start to the season than this. Great job by the left fielder.
Ryan Church and Carlos Delgado each picked up two hits for the Mets today. Jose Reyes, David Wright and Carlos Beltran also picked up hits. Wright was also thrown out at the plate in the fifth inning. He was out by a decent amount as Beltran ripped a single to right field. Razor Shines sent him, but he was out by a mile. He was also caught in a rundown and eventually tagged out.
Reyes and Church each swiped a base a piece.
The weather definetely played a factor for a few of the Mets hits today. Wright probably shouldn't have been sent home, though Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling all thought it was a good send by Razor Shines. Hindsight is 20/20.
In The Field
Church and Wright both made beautiful plays in the field, helping the Mets keep runners off the basepaths. Church made a slide, bobbled the ball before settling with it and then threw to first for a double play in the second inning.
Wright made a beautiful snag of a ground ball in the 7th inning, falling to his left and getting his glove out to field the ball. He then scrambled to his feet and made a perfect throw to Delgado at first base.
On Deck
Off day tomorrow. Mets will play the Reds again in Cincinnati at 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday night.
