On the day that David Wright was name as an all star, the Mets took the opening game of the series against the Rockies with a 2-1 win.  New York now has a seven game win streak.  The last time the Mets were able to win seven in a row was August of 2006.   

Oliver Perez wasn’t exactly the “good” Ollie; he was more like walk a lot and then try and pitch out of trouble Ollie.  Perez did start the seventh inning but after the first two hitters got on base he was pulled from the game.  He walked six in six innings and struck out seven.  The only run Perez gave up was a homer to Brad Hawpe.  As a staff the Mets pitchers walked a total of 9 Rockies.  Luckily for the Mets, the Rockies left the bases loaded in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings. 

Pedro Feliciano got the win and Billy Wagner got the save.  But the credit really goes to Aaron Heilman.  Heilman entered the game in the sixth inning with no out, Jeff Baker was on second and Brad Hawpe was on first, Jayson Nix advanced the runner with a sac bunt, and then Heilman walked pinch hitter Seth Smith before getting Willie Taveras and Clint Barmes to strike out and end the Rockies threat.  Heilman has really come around and has been very successful in his recent outings; it seems that he has added a third pitch, a slider, which has made his change up more effective.  He has been able to keep the ball down and by doing that it has kept the ball in play.   

Damion Easley was Friday night’s hero, with two outs and the game tied at one in the bottom of the eighth, Easley hit a homerun to make the score 2-1, and the Mets would win by that score.  It was pretty funny though, if you were watching the Mets telecast here in NY right before Easley hit the homerun Gary Cohen was talking about how Easley has hit some big homeruns in big spots, and right after that Easley homered.  Cohen said, “I called it!”  When Taylor Buchholz entered the game, they also said, “Buchholz has only allowed two homers this season…”  This time it worked in the Mets favor, but I always hate it when the commentators give a stat like that because it seems that on the very next pitch the guy gives up a homer.  

The Mets remain 1.5 games out of first as the Phillies seem to be hot again winning three straight.  The Marlins have also continued their winning ways and are tied for second with the Mets.    

Pedro Martinez will start on Saturday afternoon and  he will be opposed by Rockies’  starter Ubaldo Jimenez.  Jimenez was the same pitcher that out dueled Martinez when the Mets visited Coors field in late June.  Actually, it wasn’t much of a contest that was the game where Pedro was cruising along and then just imploded giving up six runs in a inning.  Anyway, lets hope that isn’t the case on Saturday afternoon.  Game time is scheduled for 3:55 p.m.  Lets Go Mets!   

 Mets Blog