Series Recap: Rockies Take Double-Header and Series from Mets

The only thing worse than losing one game in a day is losing two games–but the only thing worse than that is getting swept. The Mets dropped both games of the double-header today, sinking their record down to 4-9.

Game 1 (Rockies win 7-6):
Pelfrey’s terrible start to the season trudged on, with a 5.3 inning, 6 hits, 3 earned-runs, 4 walks, and 3 strikeouts performance. Pelf wasn’t the only Mets pitcher to struggle though.

Recently promoted Ryota Igarashi allowed a few of Pelfrey’s runners score in a predictably mediocre 2/3-inning performance. Tim Byrdak continued his noticeable struggles against lefties, allowing a lead-off double to left-handed hitter Seth Smith. Byrdak proceeded to walk the next batter, former Met Ty Wigginton, but then sat-down lefty Ian Stewart.

The real highlight of the game was the debut of Jason Isringhausen–or at least his first game as a Met since 1999. The former closer pitched 2/3 innings without allowing a baserunner, and even hit 92 on the radar gun.

Bobby Parnell replaced Izzy in the 8th inning, and surrendered 3 hits, 3 earned-runs in 1 inning of work, and even threw the ball wildly over Thole’s head on a play at the plate. Parnell not only allowed those three runs, but also blew the lead–and the game.

Game 2 (Rockies win 5-4):
The New York Mets lost the second game of the series to the Colorado Rockies, which drops the Mets record down to 4-7 on the season. Mets starter Jon Niese couldn’t keep the Rockies off the bases–pitching 6 innings, while giving up 7 hits, 5 earned-runs, 3 walks, and striking out 5. The sophomore also gave up two home-runs, a three-run dong to Troy Tulowitzki, and a solo shot to Ryan Spilborghs, which proved to be the winning run.

For the first four inning of the game, it looked as though the Mets could take away the win. The offense scored a run in the first inning off a Beltran RBI-double, their second run in the second inning off a wild pitch (Angel Pagan scored), and again the fourth inning with the help of Daniel Murphy’s two-bagger. However, the Mets 3-1 lead going into the fifth inning didn’t last.

Mets pitcher Jon Niese walked Seth Smith, and then allowed a single to Jonathan Herrera. Carlos Gonzalez advanced both runners into scoring position with a groundout, but it didn’t matter much after Troy Tulowitzski slammed a three-run shot to right field. The home run put the Rockies ahead 4-3.

The Rockies would score a fifth run in the sixth inning, which sealed the game (despite a fourth Mets run in the seventh).

Game 3 (Rockies win 6-5):
Similar to Game 2, the Mets were the first to score, off an Angel Pagan sacrifice fly and Scott Hairson RBI-single. More importantly, through five inning, Mets starter R.A. Dickey appeared to be dominating Rockies hitters. Dickey surrendered just 3 hits, 3 walks, 1 earned-run, and struck-out 4 batters. But then the flood gates opened.

In the sixth inning, Dickey put two men on, and with two outs, allowed a two-RBI double to backup catcher Jose Morales. Attempting to shake-off a mediocre prior inning, Dickey did the opposite–surrendering a two-run home run to Carlos Gonzalez. The knuckleballer finished with 6.3 innings, 8 hits, 5 earned-runs, 4 walks, while striking out 4 batters.

Bobby Parnell took over for Dickey, and promptly gave-up a solo shot to new Mets killer Troy Tulowitzki.

Game 4 (Rockies win 9-4):
If baseball was about “winning” the first few innings, the Mets would probably be in the top of the NL East. Unfortunately, that’s not how the game is played.

The Mets scored their first two runs in the second inning, when backup catcher Mike Nickeas clobbered a double to left field, knocking in Ike Davis and Scott Hairston. Then in the fourth inning, Jose Reyes singled-in both Brad Emaus and Mike Nickeas.

Besides a mediocre third inning where he gave-up two runs, it looked as though Chris Capuano was finding his stride. Then the sixth inning happened. Troy Tulowitzki lead-off with a solo home run, which was his fourth home run in the series (and second of the day). After getting former Met Ty Wigginton to fly-out, Cap put Todd Helton and Ryan Spilborghs on with two singles, and then semi-intentionally walked Chris Iannetta. The opposing Jorge de la Rosa stepped up to the plate, and hit what should have been an inning-ending double play, but instead became a catalyst. The next batter, Dexter Fowler, singled-in Ryan Spilborghs, which prompted the Mets to yank Capuano.

Taylor Buccholz relieved Capuano, but continued where he left off. Light-hitting Jonathan Herrera smacked a three-run home run, which put the Rockies ahead 8-4. All the runs, besides Herrera, were handed to Capuano. Capuano’s final line was ugly–5.6 innings, 8 hits, 7 earned-runs, 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts.

Despite another spotless relief appearance by Jason Isringhausen in the eighth (1 inning, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, and 2 strikeouts), Francisco Rodriguez had to finish the game on a sour note. The closer surrendered 3 hits and 1 earned-run, making the final score 9-4.

METS SERIES HIGHLIGHTS:

• Jose Reyes went 2-4, 2 triples, and 1 run (Game 1)
• Dan Murphy stole his first base of the season (Game 1)
• David Wright hit his second home run of the season, and went 2-3 with 2 RBI (Game 1)
• Ike Davis knocked in his eleventh RBI of the season (Game 1)
• Willie Harris had a two-RBI double (Game 1)
• Dan Murphy started his second game in a row at second base, and went 1-4, with a double, walk, RBI, and R (Game 2)
• Carlos Beltran went 2-4, with a RBI-double, and a walk (Game 2)
• Angel Pagan went 2-2, with his first triple of the season (Game 2)
• The bullpen combined for 3 scoreless innings, including just 1 hit, 5 strikeouts, but also 3 walks (Game 2)
• Jose Reyes went 2-4, with a double, home run, walk, stolen base, RBI and run (Game 3)
• Dan Murphy hit his third double of the season, and made his third consecutive start at second base (Game 3)
• Ike Davis walked twice (Game 3)
• Scott Hairston hit his first home run of the season, and went 2-4, with 3 RBI, and a run (Game 3)
• David Wright went 1-2 with 2 walks (Game 4)
• Mike Nickeas went 1-2 with a double, two RBI, a walk, and a run scored (Game 4)
• Jason Isringhausen notched another scoreless inning, striking out two in the process (Game 4)