On a sunny day in NYC, it snowed. Or at least, Fernando Nieve pitched, and pitched well.
The New York Mets (34-31) beat the Tampa Bay Rays (35-34) by a score of 5-3.
Nieve, which is Spanish for “snow,” had another stellar outing for the Mets. Over six innings, Nieve held the Rays to only three hits and one earned run. He walked three and struck out four. The one run came in the sixth when Carlos Pena hit into a fielder’s choice, scoring B.J. Upton.
Two times out, two great starts. Keep pitching him, please.
Bobby Parnell started the 7th, walking the first batter and allowing a hit to the second before tallying two outs, including striking out Pat Burrell. He then let up a two-run double to Upton, bringing the Rays within one. Pedro Feliciano finished out the 7th and Sean Green pitched a scoreless 8th.
Francisco Rodriguez pitched a 1-2-3 9th inning to earn the save and close out the win.
Bounces right back. Great stuff.
Brian Schneider got the Mets off to a quick start with a three-run home run in the second inning. It was Schneider’s first home run of the season and the first since Sept. 18, 2008.
David Wright picked up his only hit of the night with an RBI double in the third inning, plating Alex Cora.
He also struck out three times. It’s one or the other, isn’t it David?
Ryan Church provided an insurance run in the bottom of the 8th, driving in Carlos Beltran with an RBI single.