Mets Rally to Edge Cubs, Phillies Magic # Still 3
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The Mets rallied late in the game, despite the rain, to overcome a 6-3 Chicago Cubs lead to tie the game in the eighth inning. With shortstop Jose Reyes on 2nd base having led off the ninth with a single off of Cubs reliever Kevin Hart and having advanced to 2nd base on an intentional walk to 1st baseman Carlos Delgado, centerfielder Carlos Beltran laced the game-winning RBI single to rightfield as the Mets edged the Cubs by a 7-6 score.
With the win, the Mets moved within 1 game of the Phillies who had Thursday off. The Phils magic number remained at 3 games to clinch the NL East and presumably 2 games to clinch a wild card berth.
The Cubs’ loss ruined a career 2 homer, 5 RBI, 5 for 5 game for 28 year old rookie 1st baseman Micah Hoffpauir.
With the score knotted at 3-3 in the Cubs 7th inning, the crew from the windy city rallied for 3 runs off of Pedro Martinez and recent call-up lefthanded reliever Ricardo Rincon as Martinez could get no one out in the inning. In fact, Rincon pitched only got one out in the seventh with Brian Stokes finishing up the inning.
3 Met relievers held the Cubs off of the board the rest of the way despite allowing 2 hits and issuing 2 walks through the final 2 innings. Meanwhile, after the Cubs replaced starter Rich Harden to begin the seventh inning, the Mets clubbed the Chicago bullpen for a run in the seventh on Reyes’ groundout (the run scoring from 3rd), and two 2 out runs on 4 straight singles and a stolen base in-between in the eighth to tie the game. Beltran’s walk-off game-winning RBI single in the ninth made a losing pitcher of reliever Hart. Reliever Joe Smith, who pitched the ninth, was credited with the win for the Mets after replacing Pedro Feliciano who gave up a leadoff single.
For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on Thursday’s games, click here.
The Phillies open their crucial regular-season ending 3 game series entertaining the Washington Nationals. The Phils have to focus and get this in their minds; Sweep the Nationals and watch what the Mets and Brewers do along the way. Sweep the Nationals and what the Mets do doesn’t matter.
In Friday’s opener, Joe Blanton opposes 24 year old lefthander John Lannan.
Lefthanders 45 year old Jamie Moyer and Cole Hamels oppose lefthander Odalis Perez and 21 year old Shairon Martis on Saturday and Sunday.
Important to note: The Mets play their final 3 games against a tough group of Marlins who are out of the running for a playoff spot but who have some points to prove. Meanwhile, the dangerous Milwaukee Brewers are breathing heavily down the necks of the Mets for the wild card spot as both the NL East and Wild Card races reach their climax.
For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on Friday’s and Saturday’s games, click here and here.
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