The Mets were relentless and Bartolo Colon was nearly flawless. That’s as good a combination as you could ask for.
It started right away as Colon retired the Phillies in order in the first inning on five pitches. Meanwhile, Phillies’ starter Adam Morgan’s fourth and fifth pitches were deposited over the left field wall. Jose Reyes and Asdrubal Cabrera got the Mets out front early, with back-to-back first inning homers. Colon kept up his end of the bargain, allowing only a second inning walk to Ryan Howard through four-plus. His only spot of real trouble came in the fifth, when, with one out, Odubal Herrera hit a double, and after a strikeout of Freddy Galvis, Peter Bourjos was intentionally walked. Morgan then sliced a double to left as Herrera scored. Colon got Cesar Hernandez to fly to center to end the threat. In the bottom half of the inning, though, the Mets basically put this game to bed.
Colon led off with a double. Yes, you read that right. Colon doubled. Reyes followed with a double of his own on which the molasses-like Colon could not score. Cabrera hit a grounder to third, holding everyone in place. Yoenis Cespedes grounded out to second, holding everyone in place. You could forgive the Met fan who started moaning: we’ve seen this movie too many times before. But then, Neil Walker worked a nine-pitch walk. That brought up Wilmer Flores, who hit the first pitch he saw into the left-field seats for a grand slam and a 6-1 Mets lead. After Colon dispatched the Phillies in the sixth, the Mets added three more on an Alejandro De Aza walk, a Travis d’Arnaud double, a Bartolo Colon single — yes, you read that right — a Jose Reyes fly out-play at the plate double play and another Asdrubal Cabrera home run. So Bartolo Colon had two runs scored, a first time in 14-years occurrence. In the eighth, Colon finally gave out, surrendering a couple of singles, a couple of doubles and three runs. Manager Terry Collins waved in Hansel Robles, who immediately shut down the threat.
Sean Gilmartin came in to start the ninth and found himself in a first-and-second-nobody-out jam. Collins didn’t need to see anymore, calling on Jeurys Familia to put an end to the nonsense. A strikeout, a force play and a soft come-backer did just that.
As of this writing, the Cardinal are winning, the Marlins are losing, so it’s possible the Mets will gain ground on somebody.
Noah Syndergaard vs. Jeremy Hellickson tomorrow.
Was on the road for the whole game without Lewin and Rose for most of it, so my notifications were all I could get. Robles only threw 16 pitches while being rested and Gilmartin pitched yesterday, so did any of the announcers bring this up?
I thought Cabrera was a waste signing. Boy am I ready to eat my words.
For the one half inning I had the radio tandem, they questioned TDA crashing into catcher given his concussion history. Something to take note of; very good point.
Only in terms of not being sure who was going to take deGrom’s start in Monday.
Unfortunately no ground was gained last night.
Flores has become a real lefty masher and has carved out an important niche on this team. Loney has cooled off to a 550 OPS the past 30 games. Flores season OPS is 606 vs RHP. The solution is to replace Loney with Kelly Johnson in the platoon with his 852 OPS in the past 30 games.
Granderson and Bruce are dragging this team down. Neither player is hitting but Conforto is. Conforto gained the experience of a playoff drive last year. He should be given a starting OF job and told he is there everyday until the end of the season. He can’t do worse.
DeAza and Ruggiano should be the CF platoon (except Ruggiano may be hurt). If that is the case then Bruce and Grandy will still get at bats.
It is crunch time so play the players that are producing.
up 7-1 with….that send for d’Arnaud was a head scratcher.
Up a zillion runs: did we need a pitching change from Robles, nuch less a finish by JF? Look, if JF wanted to pitch, then Pitch him to start the inning. Otherwise, a waste of arms that you’re gonna need.
One of my pet peeves is that whenever a hitter in a big spot makes out on the first pitch, somebody will always complain that he “swung at the first pitch.”
I recall reading that about d’Arnaud the other day, and a thousand other times in the past.
Last night Wilmer hit that Grand Slam on the first pitch.
No complaints!
Very interesting point Jim.
As one of those complainers, I believe it’s a psychological thing because if a player hits a bullet at someone and its caught, not a word would be said.
But, if they go up there and make weak contact and therefore be beaten by the pitcher, that would bother a fan. In a fan’s mind, the hitter didn’t give himself a chance at a better pitch.
Statistically, the first pitch is a great pitch to hit.
In the war of attrition and “deep counts,” it’s not so good.
We also know, statistically, there’s a huge statistical gap between hitting with a 1-0 count or 0-1 count.
I generally like first pitch hitting, especially in tight spots, but it’s a game of situations, specifics. It always depends.
On the pitching issues: I figured Robles would throw two innings. But pulling him
After one left him available for today. Gilmartin with a 5-run lead seemed safe. But he’s been horrible this year, just tentative & lost, and I understand TC suddenly having visions of a 3-run bomb and a 9-7 game. He decided not to screw around. I’m sympathetic to the manager, who did not get what he wanted.
I was in favor of sending d’Arnaud. One out, up 7-1, the right time and little to lose. Guy made a good throw. No one could have anticipated the collision; the throw brought Rupp in front of the plate.
Actually Jimmy, I looked at the replay twice and feel that if TDA slid sort of headfirst to the inside, he would have reached his hand in and been safe. Even feet first but to the inside, “Willie Mays Hayes style” would have made it.
Being a catcher, I guess he couldn’t help himself. But the collision was really respectful: shoulder to shoulder, no forearms or elbows, and a pat on the chest protector in the end. I have a feeling Rupp probably enjoyed it too.
I don’t think you should ever slide headfirst into home plate. All that equipment, too easy to break a hand, etc.
He was out, no options. Not a vicious collision, just an unavoidable one.
Just want to note that I was at the game and the Reyes stab was great and the Cabrera dive was a 2016 defensive gem.