Monday night in San Francisco was another pitcher’s duel as the Mets and Giants played a scoreless stand off for 8 innings until the Mets broke through with 3 in the top of the 9th to beat the Giants 3-0. It was Jonathon Niese vs Chris Heston and Niese was brilliant in easily his best outing of the season. Niese went 8 scoreless allowing just 3 hits 2 walks and 4 strike outs. Heston, who no-hit the Mets the last time he faced them went 7 1/3 allowing 3 hits walking 4 and striking out 2. The Mets scored 3 times in the top of the 9th. Michael Cuddyer singled, then Kirk Nieuwenhuis doubled down the right field line to make it 2nd and 3rd. Johnny Monell came up and stroked a 2 run double against his former team to make it 2-0. Juan Lagares then singled home Monell and it was 3-0. Jeurys Familia pitched the bottom of the 9th for his 23rd save. Niese and Familia combine on the 3 hit shutout. Niese gets the win improving to 4-8. Sergio Romo who started the 9th and was responsible for the go-ahead runs takes the loss falling to 0-4. With the win (and back to back shutouts) the Mets improve to 3-1 on this west coast trip. They are 43-41 on the season and 14-27 on the road. The Nationals lost on Monday so the Mets gain a game on the Nats are now 3 ½ behind in 2nd place in the NL east. Tuesday night is game two of the series. Bartolo Colon (9-6 4.55) goes for the Mets, Matt Cain (0-1 9.00) goes for San Francisco.
3 comments:
MO-NELL, MO-NELL, MO-NELL! Big hit, man.
I did not stay up to watch the winning 9th inning, but I did like what I saw of Monell in one other way. He was pumped at 2nd base after his double, and it was so good to see a hitter pumped like that. Watch it if you haven't. Not excessive...but macho...just the kind of reaction I like to see from a Mets hitter succeeding in a big spot. Likely no connection, but I am not surprised Lagares drove him in as the next batter. Monell's reaction exuded excitement and positive, let's kick butt, energy. I like that on a moribund hitting team.
Good comment, Thomas, about Monell's energy. Outside of Murphy, it's a pretty flat team in that regard.
James Preller
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