Saturday night in Miami, the Mets exploded for 7 runs on 3
homers in the first two innings, while Bartolo Colon continued his resurgence.
The Mets beat the Marlins 7-0. The
Amazins jumped all over Miami starter Brad Hand. In the top of the 1st
David Wright singled, Yoenis Cespedes walked and Travis d’Arnaud clubbed a
three run homer, his 10th on the season. Wilmer Flores followed d’Arnaud
with a solo homer, his 15th for a 4-0 Met lead. In the top of the 2nd Juan Lagares
hit an opposite field 2 run homer, his 6th on the year and d’Arnaud
added an RBI single for a 7-0 Met lead.
Hand was gone after 1 2/3 innings allowing all 7 runs on 6 hits. Colon
was brilliant, going the distance for his 1st shutout and complete
game as a Met, his 13th career shutout and 1st since 2013
scattering 9 hits and striking out 2. Colon now has 25 consecutive scoreless
innings. He’s now 13-11 on the season and his ERA drops to 4.18. Colon also
featured an incredible behind the back toss to first on a squib up the first
base line in the 6th to retire Justin Bour. It was the first
complete game of the year for the Mets as they amassed 9 hits on the
night. d’Arnaud led the way going 2 for
4 with the homer and 4 RBI. Wright and
Lagares each had 2 hits apiece. With the win the Mets improve to 75-60 on the
year and 30-36 on the road. The Nats were winning easily on Saturday night so the
Mets hold their 5 game lead in the NL East. Sunday Afternoon is the rubber game
of the series. Steven Matz (2-0 1.32) makes his return to the mound for the
Mets, Jarred Cosart (1-4 5.36) goes for the Fish.
I know Bartolo isn't a big favorite around here (not that he's openly despised or anything), but he's your stopper down the stretch. The kids, who clearly have the better stuff, have been up and down the last week or so. There's all kinds of crap that comes with a pennant race. Pressures inside, pressures outside. The rest of the starters haven't lived through it before. Bartolo is the veteran presence that helps keep those around him calm and even. Bartolo is the veteran who goes out and just pitches his game every five or six days.
ReplyDeleteOf course it helps a lot when your team can score 7.
A wonderful game, no doubt. There are certain types of teams that Bartolo is so good against -- the young ones, the immature ones.
ReplyDeleteBut yes, a brilliant performance at the best possible time.
I've never been a fan of the contract, but I do enjoy the player (most days).
James Preller