Game Recap: Gee Silences Padres Bats in 6-1 win

Dillon Gee won back-to-back starts for the first time for the first time in 2012, while showing his dominance against the San Diego offense, allowing one run in seven innings of work on four hits, while striking out nine hitters, a career high. The momentum of the game shifted right in the top of the first inning, with runners on first and third.

Jesus Guzman hit a long fly ball to Mike Baxter out in left field, and even though Will Venable scored after the catch, Baxter was able to relay back in a strong throw to double off Yonder Alonso, squashing any potential early game rally from the Friars. Gee came back in the top of the second with a strong, 1-2-3 inning, allowing the New York offense to tie things up in the bottom half of the inning with a Lucas Dudahome run; it’s Duda’s fifth bomb of the year, and first since April 28th. The Mets were back at it in the next inning, and Gee decided to get in on the act with a one out double. That started a string of three consecutive hits; Baxter doubled in Gee for the

go-ahead run, then Kirk Nieuwenhuis singled to drive in Baxter to give New York a 3-1 lead, and they would never look back.

With two outs and two runners on in the bottom of the fifth, Daniel Murphy snapped out of his funk with an RBI double to left field. Next up was Ike Davis, who hit his second two-RBI single in as many days to push the Met lead to 6-1.  Tim Byrdak came on to relieve Gee after his seven innings of work, and worked a rare inning of his own, walking one and striking out one. That gave way to Ramon Ramirez, who shut the door with a perfect ninth inning to seal the victory for the Mets.

On a night when David Wright went 0-for-3 with a walk, the lineup was able to get some offense from other areas. Mike Baxter was back in the lead-off spot and collected a hit, RBI, and run scored. Ike Davis rose his average to .168 with the hit and walk that he earned last night. Probably the biggest hit of the entire night came off of Dillon Gee’s bat; he’s the one that started what eventually was the game-winning rally, then kept the Padre bats silent after he gave up that first inning run, but it was Baxter’s play that gave him the confidence and momentum.

The win moves the Mets back to four games over .500 at 25-21. They are still tied with the Marlins for third place in the NL East, only 2.5 games out of first place. The Nationals beat the Braves last night, extending their lead over them to 2 games.

Probable Pitchers today:

The Mets and Padres are the first game of the day, and Johan Santana (1-2, 3.24 ERA) will try to register his eighth quality start of the season against Clayton Richard (2-5, 4.63 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 1:10pm at Citi Field.