Every position player in the lineup had a hit today, while Curtis Granderson, Daniel Murphy, Wilmer Flores and Lucas Duda all had multiple. Five of the Mets 14 total hits were for extra-bases, and the Mets got just enough pitching from their relievers to keep the pesky Phillies’ offense from mounting a comeback. Alex Torres did not look sharp with his four pitch walk to Ben Revere, but then got two contact outs sandwiched around a plunking of Chase Utley in the seventh, ending the Phillies’ rally for good.
Bartolo Colon was responsible for all four runs by the Phillies, including a Chad Billingsley home run to start the scoring. But he struck out six and walked none to increase his now ridiculous K/BB% to 40/1. For a last place team, the Phillies put up a lot of fight for the Mets over the series. However, that’s as much the fault of the Mets as it seems to be the Phillies positives. The Mets received contributions from bench players Johnny Monell and Kirk Nieuwenhuis today, which is a rarity. Granderson has two home runs in the past four games, so hopefully he’s starting to heat up power-wise, while Flores is still putting up a decent fight to keep his job at short. The Mets are now just one game under .500 on the road this year, and will hope to turn that number positive as they head to Chicago to face the very young and very talented Cubs.
Nine hits yesterday and 14 hits today, including two each from Duda and Granny and three from Murphy. Hopefully the bats will continue to thrive against the Cubs, whose staff ERA of 4.31 coming into Sunday ranked 12th in the NL, one spot worse than the Phillies.
While it is great that they had 14 hits, its kind of shocking that they only scored seven runs. Maybe I’m just splitting hairs, but they have more potential than this. Hopefully they can put on a show in Chicago: great pitching and a quality offense.
Very much looking forward to Noah Syndergaard.
The 31 games stretch is over with 26 of the games against Eastern Division rivals. When the season started, “my gut reaction” was if the Mets could go 16-15 then they would be on their way to a competitive season. The Mets exceeded my expectations by going 20-11 and are in first place, 3.5 games ahead of the Nationals. The Mets have done this with with two key offensive players, Wright and D’Arnaud injured. They have a depleted bullpen still missing Mejia, Parnell, Edgin, Black and Blevins. The bench production has been non existent and they have had sub par performances from their veterans Murphy, Cuddyer and Granderson. They also lost a key rotation piece in Wheeler. Yet it doesn’t seem like they are winning with smoke and mirrors. Instead they are winning games like yesterday’s game, bending but not breaking. Duda and Lagares are having solid years but it is the starting pitching and the closer that have been excellent.The relief corp has been very good to supplement Familia. The pitching has carried the Mets to this lofty level and has provided the confidence and given me a “gut reaction” that this may be a special year.