A game they could have won, but didn’t.
The Baltimore Orioles (28-37) beat the New York Mets (33-30) by a score of 6-4.
Tim Redding was, in a word, “meh.” He seems to pitch well, but not when it counts. He allowed four earned runs on seven hits in 5 1-3 innings, including Matt Wieters first career home run.
A typical fifth starter start. Too bad he’s “third” in the rotation.
Bobby Parnell relieved Redding, and ended up throwing a hitless inning. Pedro Feliciano came on in the seventh with one out and allowed a single to Nick Markakis before serving up a hanger to Aubrey Huff, who crushed it over the right field wall to break up the tie.
Can’t expect Feliciano to be perfect all the time. He just wasn’t hitting hit spots tonight.
Brian Stokes (yes, really!) came on to pitch 1 1-3 innings, allowing one hit but no runs.
The 5th, 6th, and 7th batters in the Mets order had big nights. Ryan Church, batting 5th, went 2-4 with a double and a run scored. Gary Sheffield went 2-4 with a solo home run. Daniel Murphy went 3-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
The game changer came in the sixth with the bases loaded. Alex Cora had just walked, driving in a run, and Fernando Tatis was at the plate. On a 2-0 pitch with one out, Tatis, who was pinch hitting for Fernando Martinez swung and grounded a ball to second base, setting up an easy double play to end the threat.
Trying to do too much. Let him pitch to you. He just walked in a run and was behind you in the count, Tatis. Baseball fundies!
This PH move will come into question tomorrow. Hindsight is 20/20, but I didn’t like the move when Jerry Manuel pulled the trigger.
The Mets then got a one-out ground rule double from Tatis in the 9th inning. With Carlos Beltran and David Wright coming up behind him, the Mets looked to have a shot at scoring. Both players swung at the first pitch and both flied out to the outfield.
Yargh. Wright’s hitting streak ended at 11 games. Bad timing? I can’t complain though. He’s just been too good lately.