Francisco Rodriguez is now tied with Mike Pelfrey to the team lead in saves.
The Good
Johan Santana. He worked himself into trouble a few times, but was able to pitch himself out of them each and every time. The only run scored after Santana had left the game. Six and 1/3 innings, eight hits and one earned run. He struck out five. I love it.
A five-out save. Francisco Rodriguez came on in the 8th with the bases loaded and one out. He allowed a sac-fly, but nothing more. He set the Cubs down 1-2-3 in the 9th. He struck out three en route to his first save of the season and his first five-out save since 2005.
The sixth. Jose Reyes led off the inning with a walk, David Wright broke out of his funk with an RBI double over the head of Alfonso Soriano. Jeff Francoeur, who was 0-for-his-last-24, sliced a single to right, scoring Wright. Ike Davis singled, Rod Barajas walked, brining Angel Pagan to the plate with the bases loaded. Pagan chopped one to second, which Barajas got in the way of before it made its way to Mike Fontenot, causing him to misplay the ball. Francouer scored easily and Davis hustled all the way from second to score. All awesome things.
Insurance. Davis doubled with two outs in the 8th and Barajas followed with a single, chasing Davis home to extend the Mets lead to 5-2.
The Bad
Jerry Manuel’s bullpen usage. He pulled Santana after 103 pitches in the sixth and brought on Fernando Nieve, for his 11th appearance in 16 games. Nieve allowed a hit to his only batter before Manuel brought in Pedro Feliciano. Perpetual Pedro worked out of the 7th, and came out to start the 8th. After Feliciano allowed two batters to reach, Manuel called in Jenrry Mejia from the bullpen for his first “set-up” job. Mejia walked his only batter before getting pulled, at which point Manuel brought on K-Rod for a five-out save. Huh?
Jason Bay: 0-4, K
Wright’s 3 Ks.
Game Ball
Ike Davis and Johan Santana split it. K-Rod gets an honorable mention.
On Deck
The Atlanta Braves come to Citi Field for a 7:10 p.m. game tomorrow.