8/30 Game Recap: Ike Homers; Dillon Gee And Bullpen Fend Off Nationals For 3-2 Victory

The Mets arrived in the nation’s capital this evening to face the Washington Senators, where the National League’s pitching leader in wins awaited them.  Jordan Zimmermann brought a 15-7 record into tonight’s game, with a 3.32 ERA.  His mound opponent was Dillon Gee, who entered Friday’s match-up with a 9-9 record, and a 3.69 ERA.  Dillon Gee was a loser in his last outing, pitching six innings, and surrendering ten hits and four earned runs to the Detroit Tigers.  Previous to that, Dillon pitched 7.2 innings against the Minnesota Twins and didn’t allow an earned run while striking out nine.

Jul 12, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Dillon Gee (35) in the dugout against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the eighth inning at PNC Park. The Pittsburgh Pirates won 3-2 in eleven innings. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

This is the line-up Coach Collins handed in to face right-hander Jordan Zimmermann: LF-Eric Young; 2B-Daniel Murphy; RF-Andrew Brown; 1B-Ike Davis; CF-Juan Lagares; 3B-Wilmer Flores; C-Travis d’Arnaud; SS-Omar Quintanilla; SP-Dillon Gee.

Play Ball!

To start the game, Jordan Zimmermann’s first pitch to Eric Young was a fastball, outside for ball one.  Young worked out a lead-off walk and promptly stole second base, his thirty-second theft of the season.  Eric then tagged-up on Daniel Murphy’s deep fly to center field.  But Andrew Brown popped out to second baseman Anthony Rendon along the right field foul line, and Ike Davis was retired on a fly to left, stranding Eric Young at third.

Dillon Gee’s first pitch to center fielder Denard Span was a ball.  Gee then retired the Nationals in order to end the first inning.

After issuing a first inning walk to Eric Young, Jordan Zimmermann retired his next nine in a row.  Dillon Gee was seemingly cruising early, retiring the first six batters he faced.  Then to lead-off the third, Nats catcher Wilson Ramos connected on his ninth home run of the season to give Washington a 1-0 lead.

The Mets struck back quickly.  With Daniel Murphy on first and one out, Ike Davis put the Mets ahead in the fourth inning with a home run to the opposite field.

Through four full innings, Dillon Gee induced ten ground balls, allowed one run on two hits, and struck out one.  He was up to fifty-three pitches, thirty-three for strikes, for a 62% rate of effectiveness.

Travis d’Arnaud led-off the top of the fifth with a double.  Omar Quintanilla failed to move the runner along with a grounder to short, right in front of d’Arnaud.  Dillon Gee stepped in for his second at-bat and struck out on three pitches.  With two outs, Eric Young stranded d’Arnaud at second with another induced grounder to short.  It was the second time in the game the Mets stranded a runner in scoring position with less than two outs.

Dillon Gee issued his first walk in the bottom of the fifth to catcher Wilson Ramos.  Through six full innings, Dillon Gee was up to seventy-four pitches, with forty-four for strikes.  He allowed only three hits to that point.

The Mets took a 3-1 lead in the top of the eighth inning on outstanding hustle by Daniel Murphy.  After connecting on a two out double, Andrew Brown grounded to third base, but Ryan Zimmerman‘s throw to first base was off its mark, allowing Murphy, who never stopped running from second base, to score on the play.  It was then Nats starter Jordan Zimmermann departed the game on the losing side.

Gee stayed in to pitch the bottom of the eighth inning, and collected his third strikeout of the game against second baseman Anthony Rendon.  But with two outs, pinch-hitter Steve Lombardozzi pulled a home run into the bullpen, just inside the right field foul pole and off the first level façade.  After two more singles, Coach Collins made his way to the mound to relieve his starting pitcher.  With two on and two outs, lefty Scott Rice entered the game to face left fielder Bryce Harper.  After falling behind 3-0 in the count, Rice induced Harper into grounding out to Daniel Murphy to end the threat.

LaTroy Hawkins came in to pitch the ninth inning, and retired the Nationals in order with two nifty plays from his infield, then catching first baseman Adam LaRoche looking at strike three to end the game.  For Hawkins, it was his sixth save of the season.

The Mets opened their nine game road trip with a 3-2 win over the red hot Nationals, handing Jordan Zimmermann his eighth loss of the season.

Highlights:

• Eric Young stole his thirty-second base of the season, his twenty-fourth as a member of the Mets.

• Ike Davis hit his ninth home run of the season, but only his fourth since being recalled from Las Vegas forty-seven games ago on July 5th.  He now has seven RBI in August, and sixteen since returning.  Ike went to the opposite field in each of his first three at-bats; fly-out, HR, grounder to third, and also drew a walk.  After a putrid effort the game prior, looks like someone, or coach, got in his head this afternoon at practice.

• Until encountering trouble in the eighth, Dillon Gee pitched seven superb innings to earn his tenth victory of the season.  He lasted 7.2 innings, allowed two solo home runs and six total hits, walked one and struck out three.  Dillon threw ninety-seven pitches, sixty for strikes.

• Travis d’Arnaud had two hits – his first multiple hit game as a major leaguer.

• Big out by Scott Rice.

Next:  Game Two of this three game series is scheduled for Saturday evening.  Zack Wheeler will climb the hill for the Mets, opposed by Washington’s Dan Haren.

Note: Sorry, an 8/30 game photo was not available for posting.

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