This is just some
random thoughts on today’s game which I will immediately post once it’s over.
Well, you had to love Rafael Montero’s
first inning. The first two outs came on only two pitches and the third
batter, Ryan Zimmerman, ws called out on
strikes.
The Mets first hitter in the first inning, OF, Chris Young, got the first hit of the pre-season, with
a lead-off single. It was followed by fly outs by Ruben
Tejada and Curtis Granderson and Ike Davis being called out on strikes.
Montero’s second inning… Adam LaRoche
called out on strikes, Ian Desmond Flies
out to center, Wilson Ramos grounds out.
Six up, six down for Montero… he’s done and I’m
sure we’ll read a lot about these two dominant innings. It’s sure going to be
hard to hold this guy back.
Jake deGrom took over the mound… a quick third inning that included two
more strikeouts… the no-hitter continues (lol)…
Travis d’Arnaud starts his 2014 pre-season with a double to left field.He’s
stranded after Juan Lagares and Young strike out (A.J. Cole) and Tejada lines
out to third.
DeGrom goes 1-2-3 in his second inning, including his third
and fourth strikeout. No hits in four innings.
DeGrom was extremely impressive and this should
do wonders for any discussions the Mets have had with any of the teams with an
extra shortstop.
Josh Satin singled in the 4th for the third Mets hit. Lucas Duda follows with a ground rule double (watch
out for Duda!)… but Wilmer Flores grounds out or
the third out.
Erik Goeddel pitched the 5th inning and gave up the first run
of the game on a Wilson Ramos double.
In the fifth, Kirk Nieuwenhuis and
Lagares had back-to-back singles… followed by a 2-run scoring double by… wait
for it… Cesar Puello. And then, Ike Davis hits an enormous homer to right field.
(Hello
Pittsburgh… )
Miquel Socolovich replaced Goeddel (9.00) on the mound.
He looked shaky.
Interesting… Wilredo Tovar had
a throwing error in the 6th… but Socolovich got out of the inning
with a strikeout.
Lagares had his second hit in the 6th…
Adam Kolarek pitched the 7th… who had a rough inning, giving up
two runs, one earned.
Tovar singled in the 7th and was pinch run by Omar Quintanilla (??)
Gonzalez Germen pitched the 8th… everything went to hell real
quick for GG with back-to-back doubles by Matt Skole,
and Zach Walters… which tied up the game, 4-4… Germen then picked off Walters for the 2nd
out… and got out of the inning giving up only one run (9.00).
Matt Clark pinch hit for Duda and singled in the 8th… but Anthony Recker struck out to end the inning.
Jeff Walters to pitch… of course… the 9th… choppy inning… game
up single followed by wild pitch… then gave up a triple… and the tied game… (I
know it’s just ST game one, but this is how you learn if pitchers like Walters
and Kolarek are ready for this level)… inning ends down 5-4.
Matt den Dekker lines out, Andrew Brown grounds out, and Zach Lutz was called
out on strikes.
Mets lose 5-4
Overall, sounds like a postive day to me.
ReplyDeleteFranklin just hit a HR. Going to be interesting weeks
ReplyDeleteJust back from St. Lucie a little while ago. A few more comments to add to Mack's excellent summary:
ReplyDeleteDuda, looking very sharp at the plate, was robbed twice. First, on a rope to the left-center field gap, when a diving Eury Perez snagged a sure fire double, and then on a hard hit fly to the right-center field gap that bounced over the fence for a ground rule double, taking an RBI away. In his third AB, Duda hit a sharp grounder to first base.
Ike looked a little lost in his early ABs, taking a called third strike and then weakly popping out. He redeemed himself in his third at bat with a monster home run onto the deck behind the berm in right field.
Lagares did just what he needed to do to claim a starting job in the OF, with a hard hit double and a single.
Puello showed off his cannon on a single to right with a man on second. His throw would have had the runner by a mile, so the third base coach held him . . until Puello's throw sailed about 6 feet over Recker's head. With Kolarek failing to back up, the runner scampered home. Unfortunately, Puello got the error, although if Kolarek was where he should have been, there would have been no error. Puello also looked good at the plate as well.
I can't tell you how impressive both Mets starters, Montero and deGrom, were. Both dominated, and it was while the Nat's first stringers were in the game. Potential bull pen pieces, not so much. It's a good thing we are very deep in relievers.