Pre Game Facts:
The New York Mets are now 1 game over .500, starting off their 7 game road trip with a win without all-star Jose Reyes against the struggling Los Angles Dodgers.
Ronny Paulino will be batting clean-up (4) in the batting order tonight because he is batting .500 against Lilly in 16 plate appearances. Last time manager Terry Collins made this move, Paulino had 3 hits, and the Mets won.
Jose Reyes could be back by tomorrow, Wednesday, but it doesn't seem likely.
Scott Boras and Sandy Alderson were caught talking to each other before the game tonight. Could this mean a Carlos Beltran extension or trade?
Andre Either for the Dodgers will be sitting out tonight's game because he hasn't hit Pelfrey well in the past.
Starting with the last game against the Dodgers in this 4 game series, the Mets will have to face 7 straight all-star pitchers. They are Kershaw, Vogelsong, Lincecum, Cain, (all-star break first) Halladay, Lee, Hamels.
With that, the Mets really need to win these next 2 games against the struggling Dodgers.
Starting Pitchers:
New York Mets: Mike Pelfrey (4-7 4.92)
Los Angles Dodgers: Ted Lilly (5-8 4.97)
Line-ups:
Mets: Pagan-CF, Turner-2B, Beltran-RF, Paulino-C, Bay-LF, Murphy-3B, Tejada-SS, Duda-1B, Pelfrey-RHP
Dodgers: Gwynn-LF, Furcal-SS,Miles-2B, Kemp-CF, Loney-1B, Uribe-3B, Oeltjen-RF, Ellis-C, Lilly-LHP
Scoring Plays:
In the top of the 5th inning, with Angel Pagan on 3rd base after a single, stolen base and a ground out, Carlos Beltran smacked a high fastball to deep left center field to make the score 2-0 Mets.
In the top of the 6th inning, Jason Bay led off with long drive to deep left center getting his 5th home run of the season, making the score 3-0.
In the top of the 8th inning, after Carlos Beltran and Ronny Paulino singles to center field, Jason Bay hit an opposite field bomb to make the score 6-0.
Post Game Wrap Up:
Mets ended up winning the game 6-0, scoring all their runs on 3 home runs.
Ted Lilly (5-9) pitched 6 innings, allowing 3 earned runs on 6 hits and 2 walks, striking out 3 on 85 pitches lowering his earned run average to 4.94 and taking the loss.
Mike Pelfrey (5-7) pitched 6 innings allowing 0 earned runs on 5 hits and 2 walks, striking out 2 on 102 pitches lowering his earned run average to 4.64 and taking the win.
Pelfrey has pitched way better when he has Paulino catch for him. With Josh Thole catching, Pelfrey has an earned run average of over 9.
Jason Bay hit two home runs today, for his 5th and 6th of the season. He had 6 home runs all of last season, and we are still only a little bit more then half way through the season. He seems to be picking up the pace, and it could be a fun 2nd half ride!
Carlos Beltran is taking the leadership role with Jose Reyes out, as he hit a solo home run to break the ice. He has been very impressive this season, especially at times when we need him to be.
This is the third game Jose Reyes hasn't played, and the Mets have won all of them. That doesn't really matter though, as Reyes has been playing like an MVP this season. Mets want him back whenever he is ready to return but he might take longer then expected, but the injury isn't bad enough to put him on the DL.
The Mets now have won the first two games of the Dodger series and are looking to get the win in the series Tomorrow night. They are now 2 games over .500, but don't move up in the wild card as the Atlanta Braves won also.
Game Ball:
Jason Bay went 2-4 with 2 home runs and 4 runs batted in. He is finally showing some signs of life, and is deserving of the game ball, though two of them are with fans.
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