8/8 recap: Gee Shuts Down Rockies To Finish Off Three Game Sweep For The Mets

The Mets managed only 6 hits and 2 runs on the day but it was enough to get the job done and finish off a three game sweep of the Rockies behind a stellar start by Dillon Gee.

It wasn’t always pretty for Gee but it worked as the righthander scattered 8 hits, seven singles, over 7 2/3 solid innings, allowing just one run.

Things looked bad early for the Mets righthander as he allowed back to back singles to Rockies Charlie Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu, but was bailed out by some sloppy base running. With runners on first and second, Rockies center fielder, Chris Dickerson, lifted a fly ball out to right field. Marlon Byrd snagged it but both runners tried to tag up. While Blackmon made it to third, Byrd unreeled a bullet throw to the cut off man, Daniel Murphy, who relayed it to Omar Quintanilla at second base in time to tag LeMahieu out, successfully putting a snag in the Rockies’ rally.

Neither team scored in any inning but the fourth, but it was not for a lack of effort on the Mets’ part, who failed to score in the 2nd, 6th and 8th inning, despite getting multiple runners on base. In the bottom of the second, Ike Davis singled off of Rockies starter, Jeff Manship, and Wilmer Flores walked to give the Amazins men on first and second with 1 out. Anthony Recker, however, struck out, and then the Mets were practically robbed of a run when Rockies RF Charlie Blackmon‘s leaped to snare a long drive by Omar Quintanilla.

Aug 8, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Mets third baseman Wilmer Flores (4) leads off first after being walked during the second inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The opening salvo for either side was fired in the top of the fourth when Blackmon, who played a prominent role in this game, took Gee deep on a long solo shot over the 390 sign in right center.

The Mets, though, were unfazed and crawled back with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. After the Mets loaded the bases on singles by Daniel Murphy and Marlon Byrd, and a walk by Ike Davis, 3B rookie Wilmer Flores threw his bat at a ball off the plate to hit a little dribbler to shortstop. Flores was thrown out but Murphy scored to tie the game. Anthony Recker followed with a long sacrifice fly to score Byrd and give the Mets a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

After that it was smooth sailing until two outs in the 8th, when Dillon Gee left after allowing a single to LeMahieu. Terry Collins turned to Scott Rice, spurring Rockies Manager Walt Weiss to pinch hit SS Troy Tulowitzki. Rice was completely unable to find the zone, walking Tulo on four pitches and setting up first and second for the Rockies with all star Michael Cuddyer coming up to the plate. Collins then went to David Aardsma, a scary sight for Mets fans who watched him blow the game on Friday night and then give up a pivotal home run on Saturday. Not making anything easier, Aardsma fell behind, missing the zone on the first two pitches, but then finally got Cuddyer to fly out and end the rally.

LaTroy Hawkins, Terry Collins’ De Facto closer while Parnell is on the disabled list, came in in the ninth to finish off the one run game. The forty year old was almost electric, hitting 94 on the gun and working a seamless 1-2-3 ninth to earn the save.

Notes:

> With his Fourth Inning RBI, Wilmer Flores became the first Met since Mike Jacobs to collect 4 RBIs in his first three major league games

>This was the Mets first 3 game home sweep since last September against the Marlins

>Ike Davis, who singled and walked today, has now gotten on base at least twice in 9 straight games.

Next Up:

The Mets open a road trip tomorrow night at 9:40 in Arizona.  Jeremy Hefner gets the start for New York.  He’ll be opposed by Patrick Corbin.

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