The Game

Last night the New York Mets did what they had to do, and beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-3 to win the series two games to one. Mets starter John Maine was effective, going 6 innings into the game, giving up five hits and one earned run. The Mets improved to a .500 record with the victory, their now 4-4 on the season.

Up until the 4th inning, Adam Eaton and John Maine were locked in something of a pitcher’s duel (yes, you did just read Adam Eaton and ‘pitcher’s duel,’ in the same sentence). To lead off the bottom of the 4th, Angel Pagan knocked a single into left field. Carlos Beltran would follow David Wright’s strikeout with a walk, putting runners on first and second. Carlos Delgado would move the runners along with a ground ball, setting the stage for Ryan Church to hit a single, knocking in both Angel Pagan and Carlos Beltran. The Mets got out to a 2-0 lead.

Adam Eaton, continuing his prowess against the Mets, would go unscathed until the 6th inning, when Angel Pagan would score on a Carlos Beltran single. Though the Phils would eventually wind up losing this one, Eaton did everything in his power to keep Philadelphia on top. He’d go six innings, giving up five hits with three earned runs, striking out 5.

John Maine would hit a wall in the 7th inning. The inning’s first batter, Pedro Feliz, got the barrel of his bat on a weak off-speed delivery and hit a solo job to make the score 3-1. Chris Coste would follow Feliz’s shot with a line drive double over the head of Angel Pagan. When Greg Dobbs came out of the Phillies dugout to pinch hit for Adam Eaton, Pedro Feliciano came on to relieve Maine. Feliciano would throw up a scoreless frame, keeping the game 3-1 into the 8th inning.

Though the Mets bullpen was mostly solid tonight, Aaron Heilman would again show Met fans how prone to giving up the long ball he is. Heilman gave up a solo shot to Ryan Howard, the first hitter of the inning. With the game 3-2, Heilman would walk Pat Burrell and give up a single to Geoff Jenkins. With So Taguchi on third base, pinch running for Burrell, Pedro Feliz would hit into a fielder’s choice, knotting up the game at three.

From this point on, the game was simply a battle of the bullpens, with neither side emerging victorious until the bottom of the 12th inning. Billy Wagner, Joe Smith, Scott Schoeneweis and Jorge Sosa would all have scoreless appearances. Perhaps the most notable half inning before the 12th inning was the top of the 11th, when Schoeneweis came on with runners on 1st and 2nd and one out, and induced a double play off the bat of Chase Utley. For the Phillies, Ryan Madson, JC Romero, Brad Lidge and Rudy Seanez had scoreless innings of work. Then came the 12th inning.

The frame started out quietly for the Mets offense. Brian Schneider popped out, pinch hitter Brady Clark followed with a ground out. However, Jose Reyes showed himself to be the ignition this Mets offense had been sorely missing in 2008, hitting a double to deep center field. With the pressure on, Angel Pagan hit a single into center field to score Jose Reyes and give the Mets a victory. Tom Gordon took the loss for this one, he was stretched into pitching 1.2 innings. Jorge Sosa got the win for the Mets, it was his first decision of 2008.

There were so many great aspects of this game, perhaps even more than in Wednesday night’s game. For one, Angel Pagan had three hits and scored two runs. He continues to produce, and take advantage of his opportunity with Moises Alou’s injury. It’s pretty difficult to envision him coming off the bench when Alou returns to health, he’s been such a stable of this offense so far in 2008. Also, Jose Reyes had his first clutch hit in God knows when. Though he still has a minuscule .222 average this season, he’s showing signs of a major resurgence this year. He swiped his first bag of the season tonight. Also, the Mets bullpen continues to look great. In six total innings of relief, the Mets bullpen gave up just two runs, striking out seven. When one of our starting pitchers leaves a game, the Mets fan now has a sense of confidence in the events about to transpire. And a healthy Duaner Sanchez returning to the club couldn’t hurt in the least.

Tomorrow the Mets’ offense will be tested by talented left handed pitcher Manny Parra. Parra will do battle with journeyman Nelson Figueroa, making his first start as a member of the Mets.

The Haiku

Heilman blows the lead
Schoeneweis gets cheered at Shea
Pagan: Mets’ Angel

The Boxscore

The Win Probability Added Graph

The Credits

Recap by Milo Taibi
Haiku by Howard Megdal