Results tagged “victordiaz”

Major League Baseball announced the 60-man US World Baseball Classic roster yesterday with several players on the Mets and Yankees named as possible team members. The US list includes Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter, Al Leiter, and Alex Rodriguez. The Mets have Paul Lo Duca, Billy Wagner and David Wright on the US players listed. While the 60-person list is a list of players that can play in the tournament, the eventual roster must be trimmed to 30 players the day before tournament play.

Mets fans are tired this morning, but they are happy. Four late nights watching the Mets play Arizona paid off as the Mets swept the four games and scored thirty-nine runs in the process. Thursday night the bats took a break, but the pitching was great in the Mets’ 3-1 victory.

No opponent cures poor play like the Cincinnati Reds. The Mets pounded them 9-2 at Shea Stadium on Monday, getting to former Met Paul Wilson for seven runs. There are two items of good news for the Mets: Kris Benson pitched like he did down the stretch last season and they get to play the Reds two more times this week. The Reds and their non-existent pitching staff are now 10 games under .500, their season-opening sweep of the Mets a distant memory.

The anti-walk machine that is Jose Reyes picked up his first walk of the season! It only took him 118 at bats to get it. Before Saturday, when he was hit by a pitch, his on base percentage and batting average were equal. Now he's got a whole .012 points difference between the two. Not too good for a lead-off man considering Reyes is hitting .280 on the season. With the walk in the 9th inning, Reyes also picked up an RBI> See, Jose, walks be helpful.

Since starting the season 0-5, the Mets have been on fire, winning 10 of 13 games. Their play has lifted them to two games over .500, which generally isn't very good, but when was the last time the Mets were in this position? One area of concern pops up for the Mets despite their record, the starting pitching. Three starting pitchers - Kris Benson, Steve Trachsel, Kaz Ishii - for the Mets are currently on the disabled list, but somehow the Mets are still winning.

The game started off with a lead-off homer by Jose Reyes. In the 2nd inning, Victor Diaz had a two run home run. The 3rd inning had three Met homers by Mike Piazza, Doug Mientkiewicz and a second by Victor Diaz. Piazza's blast travelled 471 feet and was the 2nd longest home run in Citizens Bank Park's two year history. In the 4th, Reyes hit another home run. The 6th inning finally brought an end to the home runs when David Wright hit his first grand slam of his career. The seven home runs is the franchise high for the Mets.

Clemens was welcomed with a chorus of boos that lasted the whole game, but again pitched well. The 42 year old, and reigning Cy Young award winner, pitched 7 innings, giving up only 2 hits and 1 walk, surrendering no runs and striking out 9. His Mets counterpart, Kaz Ishii, also pitched well. Ishii also went 7 innings and allowed 2 hits, 3 walks and had 5 K's. Control problems, Ishii? Nah.

On Sunday, Al Leiter faced Cubs ace Kerry Wood with Leiter getting some help from the offense early. The Mets picked up three runs in the first inning off Wood, who was less than steady. Leiter pitched six strong innings of two hit ball, giving up two runs in the fourth inning, which could have been worse. With bases loaded, Leiter got a called third strike against Moises Alou that ended the inning, allowing the Mets to go on and win, 3-2 (box score).