This laugher got too close for comfort.
The Good
Rauuuuuuul. On very short notice – or none at all – Raul Valdes entered the game in the first inning with a runner on second. He eventually turned in a five-inning effort, surrendering seven hits and three earned runs, but two scored after he left the game. The line score doesn’t look very pretty, but he pitched in a pinch and did just fine.
David Wright had a nice bounceback night, driving in four runs. He put the Mets on top early with a three-run triple in the first inning, and they never looked back. Well, maybe they looked back a little when it was 10-1 then suddenly 10-6, but still…
Ike Davis went 3-5, just missing home runs twice. He hit two doubles and scored three times. Jason Bay also went 3-5.
Rod Barajas and Jeff Francoeur each drove in two runs. Barajas’ came on a two-run homer in the sixth and Francoeur’s on a bases-loaded RBI single in the fifth. You read that right, the bases were loaded and the Mets got a hit. Jose Reyes even got another hit after that, driving in one.
The Bad & Ugly
John Maine. Out for five pitches, walking the only batter he faced. Dan Warthen, Jerry Manuel and the crew descended upon the mound and pulled Maine after that for “precautionary measures.” He was absolutely fuming in his post-game comments. (More on this tomorrow.)
Bullpen woes. Jenrry Mejia, Pedro Feliciano and Francisco Rodriguez allowed four runs to score and the Nationals to make a game out of what should have been an easy win. Hopefully Ryota Igarashi will join the Mets sooner rather than later.
Jeff Francoeur’s misplay of Pudge’s pop-up. Could have been an easy play near the warning track. Instead, he ran in, lost the ball in the lights/twilight sky and the ball dropped in 30 feet behind him. Funny stuff.
Game Ball
Raul.
On Deck
Subway Series tomorrow night, a 7 p.m. kickoff.