Wow, it’s been a really long time since the last time I liveblogged a Mets game, hasn’t it? This hasn’t become the regular Sunday feature I had intended it to be but believe me, I have a good reason - I bought a Sunday plan from the Mets so that pretty much precludes me from liveblogging half of the games they play on Sundays. That’s not a problem tonight because they’re on the “road” so join me as I try to to block out the inane analysis from ESPN’s Joe Morgan.
The Mets (21-19) come into this game after an effective start from Johan Santana as he worked into the eighth inning before yielding to Billy Wagner for the four-out save. Jose Reyes and David Wright each hit a home run and even Carlos Delgado came through, rapping a hard-hit single to plate an insurance run in the ninth off of the Yankees’ Joba Chamberlain. The Yankees (20-23) continued their mediocre last-place play and now trail in the division by 5.5 games. Oliver Perez takes the mound today, hoping to add to his Yankee-killer resume, and he’ll face Yankees ace Chien-Ming Wang.
Mets Starting Lineup
Reyes, SS
Anderson, LF
Wright, 3B
Beltran, CF
Church, RF
Alou, DH
Delgado, 1B
Schneider, C
Castillo, 2B
Yankees Starting Lineup
Damon, LF
Abreu, RF
Jeter, SS
Matsui, DH
Giambi, 1B
Cano, 2B
Cabrera, CF
Gonzalez, 3B
Molina, C
Start of 1st Inning
8:09pm: First pitch of the game and Reyes shows bunt, which has become de rigueur for him these days.
8:10pm: Comebacker to the mound and Wang gets an easy out, which is something Reyes has been so far this season.
8:11pm: Gonzalez does his best A-Rod impression and fails to catch the pop-up in foul territory.
8:12pm: Batting Marlon Anderson second is an interesting lineup decision by Willie.
8:13pm: Christ, another comebacker to Wang. Yet another easy out for Wang.
8:14pm: Wright grounds out to Jeter and Wang’s got a 1-2-3 inning.
8:18pm: Damon flies out to left and it seems like the Anderson didn’t get the best read on the ball off the bat.
8:20pm: Abreu hits a slow-roller - Perez leaps off the mound to catch and make the play unassisted.
8:23pm: And as he’s always done against the Mets, Jeter finds himself on base.
8:25pm: Jeter takes off for second and swipes it without a throw.
8:26pm: Matsui lines out to Delgado and Jeter’s walk doesn’t came back to hurt Ollie.
End of 1st Inning - Mets 0, Yankees 0
Start of 2nd Inning
8:29pm: Great play by Cano to throw out Beltran.
8:30pm: I just can not stand Joe Morgan. He brings absolutely zero insight to the booth.
8:32pm: Hey, a fly ball off of Wang! Too bad it’s right to Abreu and the Mets go down in order again.
8:35pm: Way to make Sutcliffe’s battle with cancer all about you, Joe. Please just shut the fuck up, will you?
8:35pm: A leadoff walk for Giambi and I think bad Ollie might be present tonight.
8:36pm: Cano grounds out to Delgado but it’s a productive one as Giambi advances into scoring position at second.
8:37pm: 3-0 count to Cabrera, who’s not exactly a fearsome hitter.
8:38pm: Church runs a long way to make the running catch on the foul line for the second out.
8:39pm: Every time I hear them say “Alberto Gonzalez” when talking about the Yankees’ third baseman, I’m totally thinking about our country’s douchebag attorney general.
8:41pm: Diving catch by Church to steal a hit from Gonzalez and to save a run. This guy’s defense has been Gold Glove caliber all season.
End of 2nd Inning - Mets 0, Yankees 0
Start of 3rd Inning
8:44pm: Delgado hits the ball into the shift and that’s another ground ball out for Wang.
8:46pm: Wang’s got the good sinker tonight and he catches Schneider looking at strike three.
8:47pm: Castillo grounds out and Wang’s in a really good groove right now, having only thrown 15 pitches to get through the last two innings.
8:51pm: Name that Molina! It’s Jose and he strikes out on three pitches.
8:53pm: Nasty slider from Perez and he gets Damon to chase for his second strikeout.
8:54pm: Perez is really bad when it comes to throwing to first on a grounder. Nice save by Delgado and it’s a quick inning for Perez.
End of 3rd Inning - Mets 0, Yankees 0
Start of 4th Inning
8:56pm: Oh look - Reyes is showing bunt!
8:57pm: Reyes puts a charge into that pitch and he’s on second with a stand-up double. That’s the Mets’ first hit of the game.
8:58pm: So this is where batting Anderson second may prove interesting - does he bunt here? More importantly, can he put down a successful sacrifice? Remember, he’s a pinch-hitter normally and they don’t normally come into the game to bunt.
8:59pm: Sure, we can talk about Reyes stealing bases but he won’t be here. No way he can get thrown out at third for the first out.
9:00pm: And, of course, Reyes gets thrown out trying to advance to third for the first out. Just an awful base-running blunder by Reyes. Anderson is on first on the fielder’s choice.
9:01pm: Wright slaps a single just out of the reach of Gonzalez and the Mets have runners on first and second with one out.
9:04pm: I don’t understand, Joe - why would you send the runners on a 3-1 count? Did you think it was a 3-2 count?
9:05pm: Beltran draws a walk and the bases are loaded for Church.
9:06pm: Giambi makes a great diving play to get the ball. Unfortunately, he throws the ball wide to Jeter, taking him off the bag, and everybody’s safe. Anderson scores and the Mets lead 1-0. The bases remain loaded for Alou.
9:08pm: Alou raps a base hit to right to drive in Wright and Beltran. The Mets lead 3-0 and there are runners on first and third for Delgado.
9:09pm: Delgado hits the first pitch down the left field line that stays just fair for a three-run homer.
9:10pm: Now they say it’s a foul ball. After watching the replay, I have to say the umpires got this wrong. So very wrong.
9:11pm: Delgado’s got to get that out of his mind and concentrate on this at-bat.
9:12pm: The Mets coaching staff is really pissed and someone just got himself thrown out. I don’t blame them for going bat-shit nuts.
9:14pm: Seriously, baseball needs instant replay for these kinds of plays.
9:15pm: Man, this game was moving at such a fast clip. Now it’s absolutely crawling.
9:16pm: Delgado hits an RBI single that goes through the hole between first and second to drive in Church and the Mets lead 4-0. Still one out and runners on first and second for Schneider.
9:18pm: Schneider grounds out to a diving Cano and his only play is at first. Two outs and runners advance to second and third.
9:21pm: After taking a very close pitch on a 2-2 count, Castillo draws a walk to load the bases for Reyes.
9:22pm: Reyes pops up the first pitch and leave the bases loaded. Wang should be relieved that he’s not trailing 6-0 right now.
9:26pm: They’re showing the spot where Delgado’s ball hit on the foul pole. I literally mean spot because the ball left its mark on the pole.
9:26pm: Single to center for Jeter to lead off the fourth for the Yankees.
9:27pm: Matsui hits an absolute bomb to right and the Mets lead is cut to 4-2.
9:27pm: The cynic in me is pointing out that Mets have seen their six-run lead cut to four and now to two.
9:28pm: Great catch in foul territory behind the plate by Schneider to retire Giambi for the first out.
9:29pm: Some vintage Ollie wildness as he hits Cano on the elbow and Peterson runs out of the dugout to settle him down. Perez needs someone full-time to settle his shit down.
9:31pm: High throw from Schneider on the Cano stolen base attempt and he’s in safely. Good stab by Castillo to keep it from going into the outfield.
9:32pm: Bermuda triangle play and Church makes a great running catch for the second out.
9:32pm: More Ollie wildness - he throws a pitch that gets by Schneider and Cano advances to third.
9:33pm: Good Ollie makes an appearance, jamming Gonzalez to induce a weak pop-up to Castillo.
End of 4th Inning - Mets 4, Yankees 2
Start of 5th Inning
9:37pm: Anderson grounds to second for the first out.
9:39pm: Wright ground to short for the second out. The Mets cannot let Wang hang around in this game - they have to do their best to get into that Yankee bullpen early.
9:40pm: So much for that thought - Beltran flies out to left on the first pitch.
9:43pm: Molina drives the ball to right that Church can’t catch and he’s got himself a stand-up double.
9:44pm: Bunt attempt by Damon? That’s a questionable decision.
9:45pm: Damon hits a slow grounder and it’s got the same result as a bunt. Molina’s on third with one out.
9:46pm: I really really hate it when Perez throws sidearm.
9:49pm: Beautiful slider from Perez and Abreu strikes out looking.
9:52pm: Jeter flies out to Beltran and it’s nice to know the Mets aren’t the only team that can’t hit with runners in scoring position.
End of 5th Inning - Mets 4, Yankees 2
Start of 6th Inning
9:55pm: Church hits a shot to dead center field and it’s a no-doubter. The Mets lead 75-2. Ryan Church is easily the MVP of this under-performing Mets team.
9:56pm: Alou grounds to third for the first out.
10:00pm: Schneider grounds to second and the Mets are done in the sixth.
10:04pm: Matsui hits a grounder down the first base line that just stays fair and it’s an easy first out.
10:05pm: Giambi leans into one to get himself on base. Lucky thong at work, perhaps?
10:07pm: Comebacker to Perez and he starts the 1-6-3 double play to end the inning.
End of 6th Inning - Mets 5, Yankees 2
Start of 7th Inning
10:11pm: Castillo hits a weak grounder and Wang barely beats him to the bag to record the first out.
10:13pm: Reyes continues to accomplish littler at the plate, grounding out to Giambi for the second out.
10:14pm: Another grounder to first and Wang has himself an easy inning.
10:18pm: Endy Chavez is in the game, replacing Anderson in left field.
10:19pm: Grounder to Reyes and Cabrera is the first out of the inning.
10:21pm: Gonzalez gives it a ride but it’s in the left-center gap and it’s just a loud fly ball out.
10:22pm: Perez gets Molina to whiff on a fastball on the outer half of the plate and the side is retired in order. Great work from Ollie - seven innings giving up two earned runs on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts. You figure Willie goes to the bullpen in the eighth.
End of 7th Inning - Mets 5, Yankees 2
Start of 8th Inning
10:26pm: Wright leads off the inning with a double down the right field line. When he’s going opposite field, all is well with David Wright.
10:26pm: Beltran drops down a bunt and they barely throw him out at first. Wright moves to third with one out in the inning.
10:27pm: With first base open, it’s a no-brainer - the Yankees choose to issue the intentional walk to Church. First and third with one out.
10:30pm: Alou hits a fly ball to shallow right - not very deep but enough for Wright to tag up and score from third on while Church advances to second with two outs. The Mets now lead 6-2. Wang’s done for the night and with the exception of that disastrous fourth inning, he didn’t pitch all too bad tonight.
10:33pm: Ross Ohlendorf is in the game, relieving Wang.
10:34pm: Immediately, Ohlendorf issues the intentional pass to Delgado. Runners on first and second with two outs.
10:35pm: Base hit by Schneider and Church beats the throw home from Abreu to plate another run. Delgado advances to third on the throw and there are runners on first and third with two outs. The Mets stretch their lead to 7-2.
10:38pm: Castillo slaps a single into left and the Mets are getting those tack-on runs for once. The Mets now lead 8-2.
10:40pm: A bomb to right center off the bat of Jose Reyes and it’s a three-run blast. They’re pouring it on and the Mets now lead 11-2.
10:41pm: Chavez grounds to Giambi who barely beats him to the bag to mercifully put an end to the inning.
10:44pm: With the big lead, Willie’s gonna let Ollie stay on the mound. I like this decision as long as he’s got a quick hook if gets into trouble.
10:45pm: Grounder to Reyes and Damon’s the first out of the inning.
10:46pm: With all these left-handed batters coming up, I now see why Willie left Ollie in.
10:46pm: Weak grounder by Abreu to Castillo and that’s two outs.
10:47pm: With the right-handed Jeter coming up, Ollie’s coming out of the game. Getting 7.2 innings from Ollie is more than anyone could ask for. That’s three straight games where a Mets starter has worked into the eighth inning - all three going 7.2 innings.
10:49pm: Joe Smith is in the game to relieve Perez.
10:51pm: Nice pick by Delgado on the low throw from Castillo off the Jeter grounder and the Yankees go down in order.
End of 8th Inning - Mets 11, Yankees 2
Start of 9th Inning
10:53pm: Jose Veras is in the game, relieving Ohlendorf.
10:56pm: Wright flies out to the warning track in right center for the first out.
10:57pm: Beltran strikes out swinging and the Mets are doing their part to end this game quickly.
10:58pm: An amazing catch by Cabrera to rob Church of an extra base hit.
11:01pm: Scott Schoeneweis is in the game, relieving Smith.
11:02pm: Matsui grounds to Delgado who takes it to the bag himself for the unassisted out.
11:03pm: Schoeneweis plunks Giambi, who’s hit by a pitch for the second time tonight.
11:05pm: Cano flies out to left and the Yankees are down to their final out.
11:07pm: Grounder to Schoeneweis, who throws to Delgado for the final out.
Game Over - Mets 11, Yankees 2
Great win for the Mets as they did something they haven’t done enough of - kicking a team when it’s down. Those tack-on runs in the eighth inning turned it into a laugher and it saved Willie from having to overuse the bullpen tonight. Now the Mets have to bottle this up and take it with them to Atlanta for four games in three days.
Hey, I bought a Sunday plan too! How coincidental/funny. Seems like a lot of people did that this year though
It’s all about getting tickets to the last game at Shea without having to pay a scalper