Mets Play Eight-Ball In Consecutive Victories
By Rob King
The New York Mets snatched victory from the clutches of defeat thanks to a subtle move by Mets skipper Willie Randolph. Sparked by a dazzling display of pitching by Pedro Martinez and an offense spearheaded by homeruns by Carlos Beltran, David Wright and a rejuvenated Cliff Floyd, the New York Mets took control late to capture a hard fought 6-1 win against the Atlanta Braves. The rousing come-from-behind victory against the defending National League East champs salvaged the final game of their six game road trip to start the 2005 campaign and earned Randolph his first victory as manager.
Randolph made a crucial decision in the top of the seventh inning that changed the course of the game and maybe the Mets season. He elected to allow Pedro Martinez to bat for himself, with two outs and a runner on second, while trailing 1-0. Randolph had pinch hitting options such as Kaz Matsui on the bench to face John Smoltz, who tied a career high with 15 strikeouts.
Martinez grounded out weakly to end the top of the inning and the potential threat. Randolph left himself open to criticism from fans and media had the Mets failed to rally or had Pedro faltered in the bottom of the inning. Randolph’s confidence in the ace of his staff and the Mets offense was rewarded handsomely. Martinez retired the Braves in the bottom of the inning to set the stage for the eighth inning offensive explosion.
Jose Reyes led the frame off with a single and moved to second on Miguel Cairo’s sacrifice bunt. Mets superstar centerfielder Carlos Beltran stepped in the batter’s box and cracked a Smoltz’s offering over the fence, giving the New Yorkers a 2-1 lead they never relinquished. The Beltran blast sent the former Cy Young award winner to the showers.
Cliff Floyd’s solo homer and David Wright’s two-run shot off Braves reliever Tom Martin concluded the scoring in an inning where the Mets sent nine men to the plate.
A Beltran single scored Reyes in the top of the ninth to cap a hit or miss performance by a Mets offense that pounded out thirteen hits along with eighteen strikeouts.
Randolph aced his first exam as Mets manager in their initial “must win” game of the season.
Sunday’s performance is precisely what GM Omar Minaya had in mind when he signed Pedro to a four-year, fifty-three million dollar free agent deal to be the ace of the staff last December.
Martinez’s performance trumped his Met debut last Monday, when he struck out twelve batters and allowed three runs on three hits over six innings. He ended up with a ‘no decision’ as he watched the bullpen squander a three-run lead over the final three innings to lose 7-6 to the Cincinnati Reds. On Sunday Martinez took fate into his own hands with the 101-pitch, 9-strikeout, 2-hit complete game masterpiece to break the Mets five-game losing streak.
Yesterday in front of a capacity crowd, the Mets engineered another eighth inning comeback in their 8-4 victory over the Houston Astros in their home opener at Shea Stadium. Mets starter Tom Glavine pitched six effective innings allowing one run on four hits. Glavine left the game with an opportunity to secure his first win of the 2005 campaign when the Mets scored three runs in the bottom of sixth inning to take a 3-1 lead.
The veteran southpaw was betrayed by the New York bullpen that allowed the Astros to tie and regain the lead 4-3 with one run in the seventh and two in the eighth inning. The Mets overcame the bullpen collapse with a five run rally in the bottom of the inning aided by a Houston misplay, and wrapped up their second consecutive come from behind victory.
Despite the slow start there is much to like about the 2005 Mets. The Mets have improved their fundamentals, are more aggressive on the base paths, have an improved work ethic and a legitimate ace. The Mets carry themselves with a quiet confidence and a resilient spirit that is a reflection of their field manager, a former all-star second baseman with the New York Yankees during championship seasons in the late seventies.
If the bullpen continues its early season trend of blowing leads then the Mets resiliency will be tested. However the Mets must address the bullpen problem from within because most major league pens are struggling. The Mets mounted their comeback against the Houston relief staff.
Willie Randolph’s steady leadership will allow the Mets to endure the rainy days of losing and to flourish in the sunshine of winning. No matter what the situation calls for the Mets appear to have their manager for all seasons and hopefully for many seasons.
Randolph made a crucial decision in the top of the seventh inning that changed the course of the game and maybe the Mets season. He elected to allow Pedro Martinez to bat for himself, with two outs and a runner on second, while trailing 1-0. Randolph had pinch hitting options such as Kaz Matsui on the bench to face John Smoltz, who tied a career high with 15 strikeouts.
Martinez grounded out weakly to end the top of the inning and the potential threat. Randolph left himself open to criticism from fans and media had the Mets failed to rally or had Pedro faltered in the bottom of the inning. Randolph’s confidence in the ace of his staff and the Mets offense was rewarded handsomely. Martinez retired the Braves in the bottom of the inning to set the stage for the eighth inning offensive explosion.
Jose Reyes led the frame off with a single and moved to second on Miguel Cairo’s sacrifice bunt. Mets superstar centerfielder Carlos Beltran stepped in the batter’s box and cracked a Smoltz’s offering over the fence, giving the New Yorkers a 2-1 lead they never relinquished. The Beltran blast sent the former Cy Young award winner to the showers.
Cliff Floyd’s solo homer and David Wright’s two-run shot off Braves reliever Tom Martin concluded the scoring in an inning where the Mets sent nine men to the plate.
A Beltran single scored Reyes in the top of the ninth to cap a hit or miss performance by a Mets offense that pounded out thirteen hits along with eighteen strikeouts.
Randolph aced his first exam as Mets manager in their initial “must win” game of the season.
Sunday’s performance is precisely what GM Omar Minaya had in mind when he signed Pedro to a four-year, fifty-three million dollar free agent deal to be the ace of the staff last December.
Martinez’s performance trumped his Met debut last Monday, when he struck out twelve batters and allowed three runs on three hits over six innings. He ended up with a ‘no decision’ as he watched the bullpen squander a three-run lead over the final three innings to lose 7-6 to the Cincinnati Reds. On Sunday Martinez took fate into his own hands with the 101-pitch, 9-strikeout, 2-hit complete game masterpiece to break the Mets five-game losing streak.
Yesterday in front of a capacity crowd, the Mets engineered another eighth inning comeback in their 8-4 victory over the Houston Astros in their home opener at Shea Stadium. Mets starter Tom Glavine pitched six effective innings allowing one run on four hits. Glavine left the game with an opportunity to secure his first win of the 2005 campaign when the Mets scored three runs in the bottom of sixth inning to take a 3-1 lead.
The veteran southpaw was betrayed by the New York bullpen that allowed the Astros to tie and regain the lead 4-3 with one run in the seventh and two in the eighth inning. The Mets overcame the bullpen collapse with a five run rally in the bottom of the inning aided by a Houston misplay, and wrapped up their second consecutive come from behind victory.
Despite the slow start there is much to like about the 2005 Mets. The Mets have improved their fundamentals, are more aggressive on the base paths, have an improved work ethic and a legitimate ace. The Mets carry themselves with a quiet confidence and a resilient spirit that is a reflection of their field manager, a former all-star second baseman with the New York Yankees during championship seasons in the late seventies.
If the bullpen continues its early season trend of blowing leads then the Mets resiliency will be tested. However the Mets must address the bullpen problem from within because most major league pens are struggling. The Mets mounted their comeback against the Houston relief staff.
Willie Randolph’s steady leadership will allow the Mets to endure the rainy days of losing and to flourish in the sunshine of winning. No matter what the situation calls for the Mets appear to have their manager for all seasons and hopefully for many seasons.
posted by Guichard Cadet @ 11:40 AM
0 comments
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home