This Mets team has been maddeningly inconsistent this season as they’re pretty much set up shop hovering around the .500 mark. Just when you think they’ve put it all together on offense, they come out with a stinker. Hopefully, today’s game will not be one of those stinkers.
After falling behind 4-3 late in last night’s game, the Mets displayed some fight - something more prevalent in Jerry Manuel’s reign as manager. They scored three in the eighth to take the late and another three in the ninth to put the game away, winning 9-4. Lost in the Mets scoring woes early in the game was John Maine, who was absolutely dealing. His only mistake came on a Ryan Howard three-run home run but otherwise he was The Maine Event. The Mets (43-44) will try to build off of last night’s comeback and will trot out the improved(?) Oliver Perez who looks to replicate his success last Sunday against the Yankees. The Philles (48-40) will send Kyle Kendrick to the mound to give the Phillies the series lead.
Mets Starting Lineup
Reyes, J, SS
Chavez, RF
Wright, 3B
Beltran, CF
Delgado, 1B
Easley, 2B
Anderson, LF
Schneider, C
Perez, P
Phillies Starting Lineup
Werth, RF
Utley, 2B
Rollins, SS
Howard, 1B
Burrell, LF
Feliz, 3B
Victorino, CF
Ruiz, C
Kendrick, P
Start of 1st Inning
1:38pm: First pitch from Kyle Kendrick to Reyes is a ball.
1:38pm: That’s all the pitches Reyes will take as he grounds to second for the first out.
1:39pm: Chavez lines the 0-2 pitch into right center for a single. He’s hitting better given more at-bats.
1:42pm: Chavez runs on the 3-1 count to Wright, who grounds to Utley for the second out. Chavez is on second with two outs.
1:44pm: Beltran continues his recent putrid hitting as he pops out to end the inning.
1:49pm: Werth draws a walk off Perez and we’re off and running on another Ollie-fueled adventure.
1:52pm: Utley pops up to Wright and that’s the first out.
1:55pm: Perez had Werth dead to rights on the pick off but Delgado can’t get the ball out of the glove cleanly and Werth has himself a stolen base.
1:56pm: Rollins grounds a ball but it hits off of Perez and it’s an infield single. Runners on first and second with one out.
1:57pm: Two on for Ryan Howard? Good luck, Ollie!
1:59pm: Schneider throws behind Werth at third but he slides back in safely. Rollins steals second on the throw.
2:00pm: Absolutely tremendous stop by Schneider on the Perez pitch in the dirt to save a run.
2:02pm: Howard whiffs on the 3-2 slider and Perez gets a big strikeout.
2:04pm: Burrell pops out to Delgado near the first base dugout and Perez escapes without giving up a run.
End of 1st Inning - Mets 0, Phillies 0
Start of 2nd Inning
2:06pm: Delgado flies out to left for the first out.
2:07pm: Easley just continues to hit since being inserted into the starting lineup as he singles to left.
2:09pm: Anderson draws a walk and there are runners on first and second with one out.
2:11pm: Schneider singles to center. Easley rounds third but is stopped and scampers back to third. Bases are loaded with one out.
2:12pm: Perez pops up to third for the second out.
2:13pm: Reyes flies to center and the bases are left loaded. They just can’t get a big hit with two outs.
2:16pm: Feliz hits a fly ball to left that should be an easy out but Anderson muffs it and Feliz is on second.
2:17pm: Victorino pops out to Reyes in foul territory for the first out.
2:20pm: Circus catch by Chavez in right. He totally took the wrong route to the ball but he’s able to leap and reach back to make the catch for the second out.
2:23pm: Kendrick strikes out and Perez works around the Anderson error.
End of 2nd Inning - Mets 0, Phillies 0
Start of 3rd Inning
2:28pm: After a disputed second strike that Chavez thought should be ball four, he grounds to second for the first out.
2:28pm: Wright flies out to left and there’s two away.
2:31pm: Beltran gets his first hit of the series and he makes it count, hitting a line drive into the seats in right. Mets lead 1-0.
2:32pm: Delgado goes opposite field and has himself an infield single.
2:34pm: Easley lines out to center and the inning is over.
2:38pm: Perez walks Werth on four pitches and the Phillies have the leadoff man on again.
2:39pm: Utley hits it to deep center but that’s Beltran’s territory and it’s a can of corn for the first out.
2:41pm: Rollins grounds to Reyes, who starts the 6-4-3 double play and the inning is over.
End of 3rd Inning - Mets 1, Phillies 0
Start of 4th Inning
2:45pm: Anderson grounds to short for the first out.
2:46pm: Schneider walks on four pitches and that brings up Perez with the obligatory sacrifice bunt attempt.
2:47pm: Perez gets the bunt down and Schneider’s on second with two away.
2:48pm: Reyes singles to left but Burrell gets to it on one hop, preventing Schneider from scoring. Runners on the corners with two outs.
2:49pm: Reyes goes on the first pitch and has the base stolen with ease.
2:50pm: Chavez hits it right to Kendrick, who flips to first for the third out.
2:53pm: Howard strikes out swinging on the slider and he’s just become a strikeout machine this year.
2:54pm: Burrell dumps a broken bat liner into left for a single.
2:56pm: The Ollie special - a ball in the dirt and Burrell advances to second.
2:57pm: Feliz strikes out swinging for the second out.
2:59pm: Victorino pops out to Delgado in foul territory and Perez strands another runner in scoring position.
End of 4th Inning - Mets 1, Phillies 0
Start of 5th Inning
3:03pm: Wright singles to center and the Mets have the leadoff man on to start the fifth.
3:05pm: Beltran grounds to Rollins who flips to second for the force. Runner on first but now there’s one out.
3:09pm: Delgado strikes out on a 3-2 count. Beltran ran on the pitch and is safe at second with a stolen base.
3:10pm: Beltran steals third without a throw. It bothers me when someone tries to steal third with none out or two outs but if they’re gonna give it to him, he might as well take it.
3:11pm: Easley draws a walk and there are runners on the corners with two outs.
3:14pm: Anderson grounds to second for the third out and the Mets leave another small army on the bases.
3:17pm: Ruiz singles to center and for the fourth time in five innings, the Phillies have their leadoff man aboard.
3:18pm: Kendrick fouls off the bunt attempt with two strikes so he goes down on strikes for the first out.
3:23pm: Werth flies out to right for the second out.
3:24pm: Utley grounds to Delgado and he’ll take it himself to the bag for the third out.
End of 5th Inning - Mets 1, Phillies 0
Start of 6th Inning
3:27pm: Schneider lines out to first and there’s one away in the sixth.
3:29pm: Perez strikes out for the second out.
3:31pm: Reyes lines it down the left field line and he’s on second with a double.
3:35pm: Chavez grounds out to first to end the inning. I know I’m belaboring the point but the Mets just cannot get a run-scoring hit with runners in scoring position.
3:38pm: Rollins flies out to center for the first out.
3:39pm: Howard hits it to right and Chavez - wisely - chooses to play it on a hop.
3:40pm: Burrell flies out to center and there are two away.
3:43pm: Feliz makes a bid, hitting a fly ball to the right center gap but Chavez tracks it down to end the inning.
End of 6th Inning - Mets 1, Phillies 0
Start of 7th Inning
3:45pm: Clay Condrey is in the game in relief of Kendrick.
3:47pm: Wright pops up to Howard in foul ground for the first out.
3:48pm: Beltran lines a single up the middle and he’s on with one out.
3:51pm: Delgado pops up to Rollins and there are two gone in the seventh.
3:52pm: Ruiz throws behind Beltran and it gets away from Howard, allowing Beltran to advance to second.
3:54pm: Easley grounds out to second and the Mets squander yet another scoring opportunity.
3:59pm: Victorino hits it up the middle but Reyes gets to it and just barely throws him out.
4:00pm: Ruiz strikes out swinging for the second out.
4:01pm: Chris Coste is in the game to pinch hit for Condrey.
4:02pm: Coste flies out to center and Perez, in what you would believe to be his final inning, gets his first 1-2-3 inning.
End of 7th Inning - Mets 1, Phillies 0
Start of 8th Inning
4:03pm: J.C. Romero comes in to relieve Condrey.
4:05pm: Fernando Tatis is in the game, pinch hitting for Anderson.
4:07pm: Tatis grounds out to short for the first out.
4:08pm: Schneider grounds out and there are two away.
4:09pm: Chris Aguila will come into the game to pinch hit for Perez.
4:09pm: Perez goes seven innings giving up no runs on four hits and two walks with six strikeouts. Looks like Dan Warthen just might be working some magic with Ollie.
4:10pm: Aguila draws a two-out walk.
4:11pm: With Reyes up, Aguila gets picked off to end the inning. That’ll punch a return ticket to the minors for him.
4:14pm: Tatis stays in the game as the left fielder and Duaner Sanchez comes in to relieve Perez.
4:16pm: Werth pops out to Delgado in foul territory for the first out.
4:17pm: Sanchez bobbles the Utley tapper and he’s safe at first on the error.
4:19pm: Utley steals second without a throw.
4:21pm: Rollins walks to put runners on first and second with one out.
4:21pm: That’s it for Sanchez as Pedro Feliciano will come in to face Howard.
4:23pm: Before Feliciano gets the chance to face Howard, the game is delayed by rain.
7:12pm: After over a two and a half hour rain delay, Feliciano finally throws his pitch to Howard - a strike.
7:13pm: Officially, the rain delay last two hours, fifty minutes.
7:13pm: Good morning, good afternoon, and good night - Howard goes down swinging for the second out.
7:14pm: After waiting almost three hours to pitch, Feliciano’s done after one batter. Aaron Heilman comes into the game in relief of Feliciano.
7:21pm: After going ahead 1-2, Heilman walks Burrell to load the bases.
7:21pm: Geoff Jenkins will pinch run for Burrell.
7:23pm: Comebacker to Heilman, who flips to Delgado for the final out of the inning. Time to exhale, Mets fans - for now, anyway.
End of 8th Inning - Mets 1, Phillies 0
Start of 9th Inning
7:24pm: Werth moves from right field to left field and Jenkins stays in the game, replacing Burrell in right field. Brad Lidge is the new pitcher, replacing Romero.
7:26pm: Reyes lines the ball into right field for a single. You’d have to assume he’ll be attempting to steal second.
7:28pm: Reyes steals second on the second pitch to Chavez. He’s in scoring position with no outs.
7:30pm: Sacrifice bunt by Chavez and Reyes stands on third with one out.
7:32pm: After getting to 3-0, Wright strikes out swinging and he can’t drive in Reyes from third with less than two outs.
7:33pm: No matter, Beltran lines a first-pitch fastball into right. Reyes scores from third and the Mets now lead 2-0.
7:36pm: Delgado strikes out swinging for the third out of the inning.
7:38pm: Billy Wagner comes into the game in relief of Heilman.
7:40pm: Victorino lines a single into center and Ruiz comes up as the potential tying run.
7:41pm: Ruiz flies out to center for the first out.
7:42pm: Eric Bruntlett comes into the game to pinch hit for Lidge.
7:44pm: Bruntlett goes down looking and there are two away in the ninth.
7:46pm: Werth homers to left and the Phillies and Mets are tied, 2-2.
7:48pm: Utley singles to right and the Phillies have the potential winning run on first.
7:50pm: Rollins grounds to Reyes, who tosses to Easley for the force out to end the ninth.
End of 9th inning - Mets 2, Phillies 2
Start of 10th Inning
7:52pm: Ryan Madson comes into the game in relief of Brad Lidge.
7:53pm: Easley flies out to center and there’s one away in the tenth.
7:55pm: Tatis strikes out swinging for the second out.
7:57pm: Schneider lines a base hit into right and the Mets have the potential go ahead run on first.
7:58pm: Agenis Reyes is in the game, pinch hitting for Wagner.
8:01pm: Reyes strikes out swinging to end the inning.
8:03pm: Scott Schoeneweis is in the game, relieving Wagner.
8:06pm: Howard goes down on strikes for the fourth time today and his feast or famine season continues.
8:08pm: Jenkins strikes out swinging for the second out.
8:09pm: Feliz lines a single into left and the Phillies have the potential winning run on first.
8:10pm: Victorino grounds a single into left and moves Feliz to second.
8:11pm: Joe Smith comes into the game in relief of Schoeneweis.
8:15pm: Ruiz grounds to Wright, who runs the ball to third for the force and we go to the eleventh.
End of 10th inning - Mets 2, Phillies 2
Start of 11th Inning
8:17pm: Werth moves from left field to center field and Greg Dobbs replaces Victorino in left. Chad Durbin comes into the game in relief of Madson.
8:19pm: Reyes flies out to center for the first out.
8:20pm: Chavez rips a single to right and the Mets have the potential go ahead run on first.
8:23pm: Wright goes down swinging and there are two gone in the eleventh.
8:24pm: Beltran pops out to end the inning.
8:27pm: Great barehanded play by Wright on the slow grounder off Dobbs. One away in the eleventh.
8:31pm: Werth flies out to left for the second out.
8:33pm: Utley flies out to left and there’ll be a twelfth inning.
End of 11th inning - Mets 2, Phillies 2
Start of 12th Inning
8:37pm: Delgado walks to lead off the inning and - I’ll say it again - the Mets have the potential go ahead run on first.
8:38pm: Easley drops the sacrifice bunt and moves Delgado second with one out.
8:40pm: Tatis drives the ball to deep left field and it’s gone. Two-run home run and the Mets take a 4-2 lead.
8:42pm: Schneider goes down swinging for the second out.
8:42pm: Smith will come up to bat so he’ll be asked to finish off his chance for a victory.
8:43pm: Smith goes down swinging and the inning is over.
8:47pm: Rollins singles to left and Howard will come to the plate as the potential tying run.
8:49pm: Rollins steals second.
8:50pm: Howard flies out to left for the first out.
8:51pm: Jenkins grounds to Reyes on the other side of second base and he’s barely thrown out at first for the second out.
8:53pm: Smith makes the defensive play of the game with the barehanded pickup on the Feliz grounder, getting the ball to Delgado just in time to end the game.
Game Over - Mets 4, Phillies 2
Over seven hours after the game began, the Mets win a game they were in control of until the ninth but persevering to take it in the twelfth. It can’t be forgotten that the Mets continue to struggle with getting that clutch hit with runners in scoring position. Still, a win is a win and a win against the Phillies makes it all that more sweeter. The Mets look to take the series tomorrow with Pedro Martinez taking the hill.
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