9/25 Mets Game Recap: Dice-K Helps Mets Seal Winning Road Record with a 1-0 win over the Reds

Daisuke Matsuzaka was once again great, and against a playoff-bound team, one that’s still trying to stay alive in the divisional race, along with the Pirates and the leading Cardinals.

Box Score and Highlights here.

Sep 25, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka throws against the Cincinnati Reds in the second inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

In the 3rd inning, the Reds played the infield in after Wilfredo Tovar got hit by Matt Latos’s pitch to open the inning, Dice-K bunted him over to 2nd and Tovar reached 3rd on a passed ball by catcher Devin Mesoraco with Eric Young, Jr. up at the plate. On the 4th pitch of the at bat, EY broke his bat on a grounder right through the hole between 2nd and 1st, scoring Tovar for the only run of the game.

In the 8th, Derrick Robertson got on with a single to open up with Dice-K still in the game. Zack Cozart bunted him over before the pitcher struck out Billy Hamilton swinging. Terry Collins then played match-up, bringing in Pedro Feliciano to face the lefty Shin-Soo Choo. Pedro walked him to put 2 on before throwing a wild pitch with Joey Votto batting. Luckily, he induced the Reds’ 1st baseman to fly out to Juan Lagares in center, keeping the 1-0 lead intact.

LaTroy Hawkins pitched a 1-2-3 9th sealing a Mets winning record on the road (41-40) in 2013.

Notables:

Dice-K went 7 1/3 innings, giving up no runs on 4 hits and 2 walks, striking out 6.
The Mets only got 4 hits on the day; EY with the RBI single, Justin Turner, Daniel Murphy and Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Thoughts:

So has Dice-K found it? The Reds are not a team looking to be losing 2 out of 3 to the Mets right about now, and Dice-K had the Marlins to practice on a couple of starts ago. He’s been masterful since taking on his former organization of Cleveland, and the Reds were definitely the best team he faced this September with the Phillies being the only other one he took on in this great stretch.

This is meaningful September and the Mets just put a hurtin’ on the playoff-bound Reds who may have to play the wild card game. This does mean something, folks. And there are no more “wasted seasons.”

Way to go, Mets.

The Mets kick of the final series of the year tomorrow night at 7:10PM in Citi Field, where they should have won more this year. RHP Dillon Gee (12-10, 3.54 ERA) faces RHP Johnny Hellweg (1-4, 7.43 ERA).

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