June 26, 2009, St. Louis Cardinals-New York Mets game story
Ace high
Santana outduels Carpenter
MLB. The Mets have settled in after a rocky start to the month, much like the way Johan Santana settled in after a rocky start to yesterday's game vs. St. Louis. Oh, but it didn't come easy.
Following the Mets’ 3-2 win over the Cardinals, Jerry Manuel did not admit to nerves in the ninth. Not with his Frankie Rodriguez on the mound., KRod earned his 20th save, tied with Heath Bell, Brian Fuentes and Brian Wilson for the most saves this season. But the Mets manager did have a light hearted complaint about his team’s penchant for making games interesting.
“You have confidence in KRod. He’s an outstanding pitcher, he knows exactly what he’s doing. I think he likes the edge a little bit. I don’t. But he lives on that edge, and that’s okay. He’s able to overcome that,” said Manuel. “It’s a good effort. I thought we had an opportunity to make it a little easier, but I think they like making me old. They like making me old.”
Santana (9-5) struggled early but eventually found his command. In seven innings, the Mets’ ace scattered seven hits, three walks and two runs—one earned—while striking out three. In his last two starts following the 15-0 loss at the Yankees two weeks ago, Santana has only allowed three earned runs in 14. 1/3 innings.
“It appeared as though as he didn’t have the command and rhythm that he usually has. Then he got back in that mode where he found his command and rhythm. He got back out there and competed and gave us a chance to win,” Manuel said.
Now three games over the break even point, the 37-34 Mets will host the Yankees this weekend in the second installment of the 2009 Subway Series. While the Mets would rather face their fellow city-dwellers with Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado and John Maine among others, there’s a confidence permeating through the locker room that they are able to win without their stars.
“Today, we were in a situation where we had a chance to win the series. It was good to see that. Last night, was a big game for us. We were able to score some runs and it’s good to see that. We don’t have the guys that we rely on, but at the same time, we wish them all the best to get healthy. That’s all we can do,” said Santana. “We have a bunch of guys here that are willing to step up and do jobs and do whatever it takes to win games. That’s what we’re doing. That’s what we’re doing and that’s what we’ve got to continue (to do).
“Do the little things, take advantage of mistakes and enjoy everything that we’re doing. That’s the way we’re approaching the game right now.”
Minus those MIA Mets and GM Omar Minaya seemingly reluctant to make a deal, doing the little things—the mantra that has been oft-repeated by players, managers, coaches and executives in the last month—is the only conceivable way an almost powerless team can win.
Held without a hit and trailing Chris Carpenter (5-2), 1-0, in the bottom of the fourth, the Mets manufactured all the offense they would get—and need—with Fernando Tatis’ one out RBI single and Nick Evans’ two-out, two RBI double to the right field wall. In the two games that he’s started since being called up from Double-A Binghamton, Evans has hit .500 (3-for-6) with four RBIs and two runs scored.
“He has that type of life in his bat. He’s a young man who can do damage. He was very close to making the team out of Spring Training. We went with (Gary) Sheffield and Marlon (Anderson). He was very close after the spring that he had, of making the club,” said Manuel, who was then asked what his plan was for Evans. Simply, the Mets manager responded by saying “I play him every day. That’s what I do with him. You keep hitting, you keep playing.”
It’s a theorem that the Mets are taking to heart.
METS NOTES:
John Maine and Oliver Perez will make rehab starts this weekend for the Single-A Brooklyn Cyclones. Maine will start Saturday in Aberdeen, Maryland, against the IronBirds (Orioles affiliate). Perez starts at KeySpan Park on Sunday against the Hudson Valley Renegades, the Tampa Bay Rays affiliate.
It is fairly safe to conclude that Albert Pujols is probably going to be the runaway 2009 N.L. MVP. He only leads both leagues in homers (26), RBI (70) on-base percentage (.447) slugging percentage (.707) extra base hits (42) and on-base and slugging percentage (1.154). In four games against the Mets at Citi Field, though, he was more than held in check by Mets pitching. Pujols finished the series 3-for-14 with four walks, two RBI and a run scored.
Thursday’s businessman’s special was the second sellout in the three-month-old history of Citi Park . The announced attendance was 41, 221. The first sellout was Opening Night.
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 11:15 AM
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