Game Recap: Mets 3 – Marlins 2

The Mets actually won a rubber game.

The New York Mets (28-21) beat the Florida Marlins (23-28) by a score of 3-2.

John Maine, who has to leave the game before the seventh inning, allowed only three hits and two walks.  He had thrown 82 pitches and struck out five before leaving after coming down with symptoms of a stomach virus that has been passing through the team.

Pedro Feliciano was rushed into the relief role, but did not allow a hit through his inning of work, also striking out one.  J.J. Putz entered for the 8th inning, but struggled.  He allowed two runs on two hits and a walk.  One run scored with Bobby Parnell on the mound.  Parnell allowed a run-scoring single to Hanley Ramirez, but then struck out Jorge Cantu and induced a fly ball to end the inning.

Francisco Rodriguez came in for the ninth and struck out the side coupled with one walk.

Before Angel Pagan strained his right groin, forcing him to leave the game, he drove in the Mets first run in the third inning with a double to left field.

The Mets struck again in the seventh getting a pair of RBI doubles from Fernando Martinez and Omir Santos respectively.

Pagan leaves with groin trouble, Maine exits with illness

The Mets lost centerfielder Angel Pagan in the fourth inning and John Maine in seventh to different injuries.

Pagan, already subbing in for Carlos Beltran who was suffering from a stomach virus, pulled up lame chasing down a Hanley Ramirez double.  Pagan was visibly upset at the injury and tested the leg with Jerry Manuel and Ray Ramirez looking on.

Pagan was later said to have “right groin discomfort.”  He will go for an MRI but Jerry Manuel isn’t too confident.  The Mets list him as day-to-day, but he thinks it will be more than that.

Maine, who was cruising, had to leave the game at the start of the seventh before throwing a pitch.  Maine had given up only three hits over six innings.

Maine is just another casualty from the stomach virus that is going around the team.  It started with Gary Sheffield, moved to Beltran and now took down Maine.

Mets Game Chat: FLA @ NYM [Game 3]

Join in and chat during the rubber game between the Marlins and the Mets.

(Chat removed, as usual.)

Lineup for Fish finale

Carlos Beltran’s stomach is acting up again, keeping him out of the lineup today.  Beltran was forced to leave Saturday’s game with the same ailment.  Angel Pagan will take over in centerfield.

1. Angel Pagan – CF
2. Luis Castillo – 2B
3. David Wright – 3B
4. Gary Sheffield – LF
5. Daniel Murphy – 1B
6. Fernando Martinez – RF
7. Omir Santos – C
8. Wilson Valdez – SS
9. John Maine – RHP

Game Chat will be up at 1 p.m.  Join in!

Manuel’s Musing for May 30

“[Josh] Johnson has been tough on us, and I thought we'd throw something different against him.”

-Jerry Manuel on the lineup he put on the field yesterday.

Game Recap: Marlins 7 – Mets 3

The Mets lineup was not built to win.

The Florida Marlins (23-27) beat the New York Mets (27-21) by a score of 7-3.

Tim Redding was shelled.  He allowed seven earned runs in four plus innings.  Redding let up eight hits, walked two and struck out two.  Jeremy Hermida chased Redding from the game with a three-run home run off the Pepsi Porch.

Sean Green took over for Redding in the fifth, striking out two. Ken Takahashi turned in three spectacular innings in relief, allowing only one hit.  Brian Stokes finished out the game, allowing one hit and striking out one.

Fernando Tatis drove in Angel Pagan in the first inning with a single to centerfield for the Mets first run.

Fernando Martinez picked up his first major league hit in the third inning.  He drove in the Mets second run in the fifth inning with a double to centerfield.

Pagan grounded a ball down the third base line in the bottom of the ninth inning, with two outs, scoring Brian Schneider from second base.  With runners on second and third, Martinez struck out to end the game.

Mets Game Chat: FLA @ NYM [Game 2]

Tim Redding vs. Josh Johnson

(Chat removed, as usual.)

Manuel’s Musing for May 29

“We all felt he could be a receiver and call a game. The surprising part is he's hit
and hit well in the clutch.”

-Jerry Manuel on Omir Santos.

Ramon Castro traded to CWS for RHP Lance Broadway

Ramon Castro was the odd-man out.

Castro was traded to the Chicago White Sox for right-handed reliever Lance Broadway.

Broadway has appeared in 19 games for the White Sox over three seasons, posting a 4.69 ERA.  Broadway has pitched in 8 games in 2009 and has an ERA of 5.06.

Broadway, a great name for New York, will be sent to Triple-A Buffalo.

The Mets will activate Brian Schneider for tomorrow’s afternoon game and will retain Omir Santos on the major league roster.

Update – 7:05 a.m.: Via Adam Rubin:

The Mets will pay the White Sox roughly $1.4 million, according to a source, the prorated portion of the difference between what remains on Castro’s $2.5 million deal and Broadway’s $402,500 salary at the major-league level.

Omar Minaya on the trade:

“When Omir Santos plays the way he has, we have to keep him around.”

“We possibly were going with three catchers.”

“Broadway was a No. 1 pick in 2005…We will send Lance to Buffalo, as a starter.”

“Ramon was grateful for the opportunity here.”

I knew I remembered this name from somewhere, but couldn’t put my finger on it.  My roommate, Andrew Fletcher of Scott Proctor’s Arm, re-posted photos from his trip to Yankee Stadium last year.

Interesting, to say the least.

Game Recap: Mets 2 – Marlins 1

This one was all about Omir.

The New York Mets (27-20) beat the Florida Marlins (22-27) by a score of 2-1 in 11 innings.

Mike Pelfrey was brilliant again.  7 2-3 innings for Pelfrey, with only five hits and one walk.  He struck out six and lowered his ERA to 3.88 by allowing only one earned run.  The one run came in the fourth after Chris Coghlan hit a leadoff triple.  Dan Uggla drove him in with a sacrifice fly.

Bobby Parnell finished out the 8th inning with runners on first and second by getting Uggla to groundout to second base.  Francisco Rodriguez logged a 1-2-3 scoreless inning.  J.J. Putz turned in 1 2-3 innings, walking one and striking out one.  Pedro Feliciano came on and finished out the 11th.

Omir Santos, threatened by demotion with the imminent return of Brian Schneider, did it all for the Mets.

With the team down one run in the fifth inning, Santos knocked a solo home run down the left field line to tie up the game.

In the bottom of the 11th, Gary Sheffield led off with a single to left field.  With Fernando Tatis batting, Sheffield kept getting checked at first base.  Marlins pitcher Brian Sanches kept throwing over to first to keep Sheffield close.  After a few throw-overs, Sheffield took off for second.  The throw from Ronnie Paulino went wide and nicked some leather before heading into centerfield.  Sheffield trotted to third.

Tatis was hit by a pitch on the very next pitch, bringing Santos to the plate.  Again, on the next pitch, a single to left field off the bat of Santos chased home Sheffield and brought home the win for the Mets.

That was something special.  No way can the Mets send down Santos after tonight’s performance.  I think Mets fans will be bidding adieu to Ramon Castro.