Game Recap: Red Sox 12 – Mets 5

On Saturday night, the Mets won a pitchers duel.  Sunday afternoon was a completely different story.

The two teams combined for 24 hits and 17 runs as the Red Sox avoided the sweep in Fenway.

Tim Redding got beat up for six earned runs in 4 2-3 innings.  Brian Stokes, in for relief, allowed five earned runs on six hits and a walk.

The third through seventh in the Mets order each tallied an RBI.  Ramon Castro was the only Met with a two-hit day.

A 5-5 road trip, with series wins in San Francisco and Boston.  Just one win in LA would have made this a positive road trip.  Too bad.

Mets Game Chat: NYM @ BOS [Game 3]

The Battle of the Tims.  Redding vs. Wakefield.

The Mets are looking for the sweep today.  Join in with some fellow Mets fans to chat about the Mets on this Sunday afternoon.

(Chat removed, as usual.)

Lineup for finale, K-Rod back, Church still hurting

Here’s the Mets lineup for the finale as the Mets look to sweep in Boston with Tim Redding on the mound.

1. Daniel Murphy – 1B
2. Angel Pagan – RF
3. Carlos Beltran – DH
4. Gary Sheffield – LF
5. David Wright –3B
6. Jeremy Reed – CF
7. Ramon Castro – C
8. Ramon Martinez – SS
9. Luis Castillo – 2B

On the K-Rod front: Francisco Rodriguez returned to the team today and said he could close today, if needed.

I’m a little reserved about that.  Let him rest.

Ryan Church’s hamstring is still barking, and according to David Lennon, the DL might be a possibility.

Really?  Who is next?

More on back spasms

If you haven’t heard, Francisco Rodriguez collapsed from back spasms after last night’s win and had to be taken away by an ambulance to a Boston hospital.

Thanks to WebMD, we can get a little more info on back injuries, and it’s not good news:

The course of low back pain depends both on its cause and on how well you treat your back.

• Most low back pain lasts less than 3 months. Overall, 60% of low back pain goes away within 1 week, 90% within 6 weeks, and up to 95% recover within 12 weeks. Over 98% of low back pain is gone within 1 year.¹
• After the first time you have hurt your back, you are more likely to hurt your back again. Many people who recover from low back pain will have a repeat episode within a year. Most people will have it again sometime during their lives.

If the pain continues, K-Rod will likely go in for a CT scan or MRI to diagnose the problem.

There are many ways to treat back pain.  From the simplest of simple as rest, to medication, shots, heat therapy, stimulation, acupuncture and many more.

Hopefully, for K-Rod, the Mets and their fans, everything works itself out quickly.  Back injuries, especially for pitchers, could be a reoccurring injury if not diagnosed properly and well maintained.

The Mets should tread lightly with K-Rod.  Very lightly.

The most exciting 9th inning in a long, long time

Via Yahoo! Sports:

Top 9th: NY Mets

- J. Papelbon relieved J. Beckett
- G. Sheffield walked
- D. Wright struck out swinging
- J. Reed struck out swinging
- O. Santos homered to deep center, G. Sheffield scored
- R. Martinez lined out to third

2 runs, 1 hits, 0 errors
NY Mets 3, Boston 2

  Bottom 9th: Boston

- J.J. Putz relieved P. Feliciano
- K. Youkilis walked
- J. Bay grounded into fielder's choice, K. Youkilis out at second
- J.D. Drew lined out to right
- M. Lowell grounded out to shortstop

0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors
NY Mets 3, Boston 2

The Omir Santos home run was just absurd.  I’m not sure who was yelling louder: me or Omir?

Then the defensive masterpiece in the bottom of the 9th.  The David Wright snag and Luis Castillo stretch for the first out.  Then the Ramon Martinez diving grab and subsequent throw for the final out.

The most exciting 9th inning this year, for sure.

Photo of the Day: Omir is pumped

 Brian who?
AP Photo

Game Recap: Mets 3 – Red Sox 2

Mike Pelfrey was great, Josh Beckett was better.

Jonathan Papelbon was good, Omir Santos was better.

Kevin Youklis, Jason Bay, J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell were good, J.J. Putz, David Wright, Luis Castillo and Ramon Martinez were better.

The Red Sox were good, the Mets were better.

The Mets won after a two-run home run by Santos in the top of the 9th inning off Papelbon.  Pelfrey pitched seven spectacular innings, allowing two runs in the first.  Putz closed, as K-Rod was suffering back spasms and collapsing.

Surprisingly, the Mets have a chance to sweep this afternoon.  I was very wrong with my preview.

K-Rod taken away in ambulance

Dropping like flies.

Francisco Rodriguez was taken away in an ambulance after the game to have his back checked out, after suffering spasms while running in pregame workouts, according to Adam Rubin.

“I’ve never experienced some pain like the way that I have right now,” K-Rod said. “I’ve been struggling even to walk. Tomorrow is another day. We’ll see how my body responds for tomorrow.

This account is from the New York Post…

The Mets gave K-Rod muscle relaxers, but he collapsed shortly after trying to leave the clubhouse on his power. Rodriguez started weeping from the pain after being helped into a golf cart, and a stretcher and EMTs were called to the scene.

Color me worried.

Maybe the Mets shouldn’t trade J.J. Putz…

Mets Game Chat: NYM @ BOS [Game 2]

Mike Pelfrey vs. Josh Beckett

Tune in to the game and log in to the chat to watch the Mets
and talk with some fellow fans.

(Chat removed, as usual.)

Twitter Poll: People I would rather have playing shortstop

Ramon Martinez made two more errors in the field last night while filling in for Jose Reyes.

Here’s some replies from Twitter followers on who they would rather see at SS…(I asked them to be funny!)

DonCheech said: Rafael Santana

newyorkr521 said: My cousin's 2 year old son.

hennycognac said: Mr. Met...

cvelardi said: How about Felix Mantilla?

MetsGal said: Sid Fernandez

ByronBrewer said: Cowbell Man! http://tr.im/mc5O

Retire31 said: I would like to see Jean Claude Van Damme play Shortstop

pattigibbons said: Santana (Rafael, of course)... or, my gramma cuz nothing gets past her!

pattigibbons said: Bud Harrelson # 3 jersey's available, right?

kevin_tor said: Pat Corning http://bit.ly/H1OXq

pricedout said: Tito Navarro!

cutiepie0319k said: Pelf should play ss.. maybe with his yips he will be jumpy and catch the ball =D

jintman said: Frank Taveras

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KevinMcCarthy21 said: Ruben Tejada - cant hit but at least he can glove it

digitalspit said: Argenis Reyes. He'll have make adjustments to play SS but, defensively, he HAS to be an improvement over R-Mart.