The Game

For the second time in five days, Johan Santana exited his start in line to get a win only to watch the New York Mets bullpen blow the lead and leave Santana with a no decision. Most importantly, though, is that for the second time this week after blowing a Santana lead, the Mets were able to win the game as they defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-2 at Chase Field.

The anticipated pitchers duel between Johan Santana and Dan Haren of the D-Backs took shape pretty quickly as both pitchers mowed through the opposing lineup in the first two innings. In the top of the third, the Mets broke through as Jose Reyes delivered an RBI single that plated Luis Castillo. The lead was stretched to 2-0 in the fourth inning on David Wright’s leadoff homer. In the bottom of the fourth, Santana gave up his lone run of the day on a two out RBI triple courtesy of D-Backs’ catcher Chris Snyder. Although he was able to get through six innings while only giving up one run, Santana obviously labored through his final few innings as his pitch count rose to 116.

Joe Smith came on to relieve Santana in the seventh and promptly got the first two batters out before allowing a Conor Jackson single, a walk to Justin Upton, and a bloop single to Mark Reynolds that plated Jackson and tied the game. With the game tied 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth, D-Backs second baseman Chris Burke lead off the inning by laying down a beautiful bunt off of Pedro Feliciano, who was on in relief of Joe Smith. Feliciano fielded the ball and threw wildly to first base. As Chris Burke reached second base, he was waived on to third base as right fielder Ryan Church tracked down the errant throw. Church uncorked a tremendous throw to David Wright at third who snapped down the tag and erased the lead off hitter Burke. Feliciano went on to yield a pinch hit single by D-Backs pitcher Micah Owings before being removed in favor of Jorge Sosa who retired the next two hitters putting an end to the eighth inning threat.

After watching the Diamondbacks not take advantage of an errant throw in the previous half inning, the Mets weren’t about to make the same mistake in the top of the ninth. Following leadoff singles by Carlos Beltran and Moises Alou, Carlos Delgado bounced a ball to first base which Conor Jackson quickly threw into left field while attempting to turn the double play. Beltran scored on the play to give the Mets a 3-2 lead. Thanks to a Marlon Anderson RBI single and a Jose Reyes sac fly, the ball was given to Billy Wagner to pitch the ninth with a 5-2 lead. Wagner got the heart of the D-Backs order 1-2-3 and the Mets became only the second team this year to win a series from Arizona. Jorge Sosa was awarded the victory and the loss went to Arizona reliever Chad Qualls. The starting pitchers deserved a better fate as they were both impressive (15 k’s between them). The Mets do not return to Arizona again this year, a place where they have now won 15 of their last 17 at Chase Field. The West Coast trip will take New York to sunny California on Monday as the Mets take on the Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles. Human roller coaster Oliver Perez will take the hill for New York and he will be opposed by the strikeout machine that is Chad Billingsley.

The Haiku

Haren, Santana
Stalemate; but Church throws laser
Then Jackson throws high

The Boxscore

The Win Probability Added Graph

The Credits

Recap by Chuck Buono
Haiku by Howard Megdal