5/11 Game Recap: Mets Rally Real Late, win 5-4 in 11

The fact the Mets won the ballgame is astonishing on this Mother’s Day (Happy, by the way.) Here’s how I originally started this recap with the headline, “5/11 Game Recap: LOB, LOB, LOB, Yada Yada Yada Mets Lose 4-1.” Well, the theme of late has been missed opportunities, and today was no different. A big problem lately has been hits with Runners In Scoring Position, and even worse is that they can’t even get a productive out. I am sorry for the editorial at the beginning of this recap, but that’s just how I feel today. And I’m sure many of you feel the same way, too. You had a feeling it was gonna be another one of those days when the Mets once more scored the 1st run as Eric Young, Jr. on a David Wright single, and had a chance for a big inning with 2nd and 3rd and no out. Once more, however, they couldn’t turn in even one more run. It’s pointless to list all the times they “threatened” because the 1st inning alone sums it all up. Jon Niese got the first 2 outs in the of the 2nd before giving up back-to-back doubles to Wil Nieves and Cody Asche to predictably have the game tied at 1.

May 11, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Mets second baseman

(28) celebrates after hitting a two run homes in the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

The Phillies did what the Mets haven’t been able to do of late and that is make productive contact to scratch out some runs. After Ryan Howard opened the 4th inning with an infield single, Marlon Byrd doubled sending Howard to 3rd. Domonic Brown then grounded it to Eric Campbell at 1st. He kinda flinched as to make up his mind where he was going before throwing it to home plate. He threw it up the 3rd base side as Howard was coming down the line, but Ryan avoided Anthony Recker‘s tag and was safe. Then with runners on 1st and 3rd and no out,  Nieves chopped it over Niese’s head to Ruben Tejada at short to score their 3rd run of the day. And chances and chances and chances abound, but the Mets couldn’t do dog shaight. The Phillies tacked one more off Jose Valverde in the 9th. He got the first 2 out, but then walked Jimmy Rollins and gave up a long fly ball double to Chase Utley off the wall with Chris Young leaping to try to make the catch, scoring J-Roll. With Antonio Bastardo taking closing duties after Jonathan Papelbon had been in each of the first 2 games, Eric Young, Jr. led off the 9th inning with a double down the 3rd base line, which woke up the crowd. Then…wow, Daniel Murphy hit a 2-run home run into the Mets bullpen to make the game 4-3 Phillies. It was the second time all year he showed off his 12-home-run power. David Wright was up next, but he unfortunately struck out for the 1st out of the game. Chris Young then hit a 1-out double to the base of the left field wall, bringing up recent call-up Eric Campbell, who had collected his 1st Major League hit earlier in the game. Ryne Sandberg decided that that was it for Bastardo, and brought in Friday night’s starter, Roberto Hernandez, formerly Fausto Carmona. Well, that was the day for Campbell, with Bobby Abreu facing his former team for the first time. Abreu lined it off Utley’s glove for a hit, sending Young to 3rd. That brought up Juan Lagares, who chopped it up the middle, slowly to Rollins. Young headed to the plate, and Rollins went to 1st with the tying run scoring. Recker headed to the plate looking to win it, but unfortunately struck out, sending us…sigh….into extra-innings. It was Jeurys Familia‘s turn to pitch in the 10th inning, with Lucas Duda now in at 1st for Campbell. The 1st pitch turned Brown into an 0-5er as he bounced it to Murph for the 1st out. Familia struck out Nieves on a bunch of sliders for the 2nd out, and Duda took a ground ball to the 1st base bag for the 3rd out. Into the bottom half. (How are we in extras again? I remember being really pissed off a bit ago…I STILL kinda am, but will be less so if we actually WIN this one…) It was Jeff Manship‘s turn, and he got Ruben Tejada out on the 1st pitch as well. Lucas Duda‘s turn, and Marlon Byrd made the catch on the right field warning track. Eric Young then hit it up the middle to Chase, but the fielder had no play. It was Murphy’s turn with EYJ now on base, and on a 2-0 count that turned into 3-0, Young stole 2nd. They then decided to go after Wright, putting Murph on at 1st. The first 2 pitches were both sliders, but Wright took the 3rd pitch for a 1-2 count. ‘Nother inside take, 2-2. He then bounced the ball to J-Roll who took the foot race himself to 2nd for the final out of the 10th. Familia was back out for the 11th, getting John Mayberry, Jr. out with an “Olè” play by Wright, throwing out the runner. The next Junior up, Tony Gwynn, grounded out to Murphy at 2nd. J-Roll up next, and took his 3rd straight walk. That’s was it for Familia, bringing in Scott Rice to face Chase Utley. He hit Utley, bringing up Rico Brogna‘s distant cousin Reid Brignac (I’m kidding, FYI.) Luckily, he got him to ground to 1st for the last out of the half. Jeff Manship stays on to pitch to the Phillies. Chris Young was up first, and he got an infield single to Utley. Zack Wheeler was then put up to bunt in the pitcher’s spot, and he bunted Young to 2nd. Juan Lagares was next, and they walked him to set up the force, bringing up Recker. The shadows by now were a problem for the hitters. On a 2-1 count, Tony hit it to a diving Reid at 3rd, who tossed to 2nd but pulled Utley off the bag to load the bases. It was the much-maligned Ruben Tejada who’s time it was to try to be the hero, and he singled to left on a 1st pitch 2-seam fastball to win it for NY. Up Next: The Mets head up to the Bronx for the 1st of 2 up there before coming back to Queens with the Navy Pinstripes for the last two. RHP Bartolo Colon (2-5, 5.36 ERA) takes on RHP Hiroki Kuroda (2-3, 4.43 ERA).