The New York Mets dropped their second game to the San Diego Padres 2-1 on Friday night. The Mets offense was absent, as they went 1-5 with runners in scoring positions, leaving the bases loaded twice. However, it should be noted that the Padres also made some great defensive plays that kept the Mets bats in check.
Johan Santana started for the Mets last night, giving up seven hits over six innings, two runs, one earned, with five strike outs and only one walk. However, it was Santana’s throwing error that lead to a run in the bottom of the sixth. I know it is going to sound like I am bagging on Santana, but it seems like a few too many times we’ve seen him get the lead in one half of the inning and then come back in and give it up. Granted, Santana got no help from his team’s offense last night, and I know everyone says he has always been better in the second half. But, while he has been good, he isn’t a good as I thought he would be. Sometimes I wonder if the expectations exceed what he is actually capable of accomplishing.
The Mets lone run of the night came in the top of the sixth inning; it was Johan Santana who scored the run. Santana reached base on a fielder’s choice and advanced to second on a base hit up the middle by Jose Reyes, Luis Castillo hit a single to right that would move the runners, with the bases loaded David Wright drove a fast ball to deep center field that Scott Hairston made an amazing play on, it was called a sac fly but that would have been a Grand Slam anywhere else. The Mets would leave the bases loaded as Damion Easley grounded weakly to short to end the inning.
On a side note, could Luis Castillo hustle, even a little bit? He was embarrassed in the bottom of the first inning when he casually played a ground ball, the runner was hustling, he was not, and the runner was safe at first. While it didn’t cost the Mets a run, it is frustrating to see a guy play like that, especially when you are stuck with the guy for at least two years.
Ryan Church did not play again Friday night, and although he did not comment on why he was he wasn’t even available to pinch hit, someone from the Mets clubhouse mentioned that Church is still suffering from vertigo. When Keith Hernandez and Gary Cohen were talking about Chruch during the telecast, they mentioned that some thing isn’t right with Church and that you can tell when you talk to him that he isn’t himself. The Mets are taking the approach that they have done the right thing here, but maybe it is time for Church to go on the DL and get him well, and back on track. The Mets miss him in the line up, but he has to be healthy.
Losing these two games to the Padres is a bad job by the Mets. The Padres are the worst team in the National League and on a weekend when the Braves and the Phillies are beating up on each other the Mets could really capitalize with some wins and improve their standing in the NL East. Mets better get it together, because we know how quickly things take a nose dive for them.
The Mets and Padres play again Saturday, first pitch is scheduled for 10:05 p.m. Oliver Perez will pitch for the Mets; he is coming off a horrendous against the Giants, Perez managed to record only one out before he had to leave the game after giving up 6 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks. Hopefully he’ll pitch a little better tonight because the Mets need to win this game. The Padres will send Cha Seung Baek to the mound; he is 1-2 with a 5.60 era.
