Game Recap: Bay’s Grand Slam Lifts Mets to Sweep

I know, that title sounds weird. In his first at-bat in a week, Jason Bay helped give Chris Young a five-run cushion before he even took the mound for the series finale in Miami. As Terry Collins has said multiple times, he’s been rooting for his struggling left fielder all year and is very happy seeing him succeed. Now, that success needs to carry over into his next start.

Mets Offensive Highlights:

After scoring four runs in the top of the 9th inning last night, the Mets came out and immediately scored five runs off Marlins starter Mark Buehrle. Ronny Cedeno and Justin Turner got things started in the first inning by hitting back-to-back doubles, putting runners on 2nd and 3rd with no one out. David Wright drove in the first run of the ballgame with a ground out to Jose Reyes at shortstop. After Scott Hairston popped out, Ike Davis walked and Kelly Shoppach was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Bay. He cranked his fifth career grand slam to the right-center field seats, his first last September. That was all the offense the Mets would need, as they didn’t score the rest of the game. Bay enjoyed his fourth multi-hit game of the season, while Turner and Andres Torresjoined him with two hits each.

Marlins Offensive Highlights:

The struggles continue for Miami, as the Mets sweep them for the second time this season, and the first time in their home ballpark since 2007. Justin Ruggiano was the only Marlin to register a two-hit day, and he drove in Byran Peterson with a double for their only run of the afternoon. As they had done all series, Chris Young and company was able to keep Giancarlo Stanton in check, as his seven-game hit streak ended this afternoon with an 0-for-4 day at the plate, which included three strikeouts. As a team, the Marlins went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position, stranding 6 men on base.

Pitching Highlights:

The first inning was the toughest for Mark Buehrle, as he gave up five runs at the start of the game, but didn’t allow another run the rest of his outing. However, it wasn’t a good enough effort to keep his three-game win streak alive, as he went 7 innings and gave up 5 runs on 6 hits, 1 walk, and 3 strikeouts. Ryan Webb and Carlos Zambrano allowed a hit and struck out a batter as each of them threw an inning.

Chris Young threw 94 pitches in his 5 innings of work, mostly because he wasn’t able to put batters away early in the count when he had them on the ropes, but he pitched effectively enough for his fourth win of the season. In his 5 frames, he gave up 1 run on 5 hits, 1 walk, and 3 strikeouts. Bobby Parnell, Josh Edgin, Jon Rauch, and Frank Francisco combined to pitch the final four innings, keeping the Marlins scoreless while allowing 1 hit, 1 walk, and striking out 2.

The Mets have now won seven of their last eight games, and have swept their first series since they took three from the Orioles at Citi Field back in June. At 64-70, New York is now 0.5 games behind the Phillies for third place in the NL East.

Probable Pitchers Monday:

Collin McHugh (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will join the Mets in St. Louis tomorrow as he makes his first start since he’s impressive debut against the Rockies at Citi Field. Joe Kelly (4-6, 3.61 ERA) will be taking the hill for the Cardinals. The Labor Day match-up will get started at Busch Stadium at 2:15pm.