The New York Mets settled into Cincinnati during their off-day, and Friday evening began a 3-game series against the Reds. Both teams entered the opening game with identical 66-74 records.
Bartolo Colon climbed the hill at the Great American Ball Park, and was opposed by the Reds’ Alfredo Simon.
Both pitchers struggled early, and after only 2 innings of play the Mets owned a seemingly precarious 3-2 lead.
Sep 5, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; New York Mets right fielder
Curtis Granderson(3) is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after Granderson hit a three-run home run off Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher
Ryan Dennick(not pictured) in the sixth inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
In the 4th, however, Travis d’Arnaud gave Bartolo Colon and the Mets some needed breathing room with a big 3-run home run. In the 5th, Wilmer Flores hit one even deeper to left giving the Mets a 7-2 lead.
Curtis Granderson keep the power surge going with yet another 3-run clout in the 6th. Even Dilson Herrera went yard. And of course, Lucas Duda joined what became a rout as well.
The Mets ultimately won this contest by a 14-5 final score, and set a few season highs in the process.
Mets Starting Lineup:
1) Juan Lagares-CF; 2) Matt den Dekker-LF; 3) David Wright-3B; 4) Lucas Duda-1B; 5) Travis d’Arnaud-C; 6) Curtis Granderson-LF; 7) Dilson Herrera-2B; 8) Wilmer Flores-SS; 9) Bartolo Colon-SP.
Game Recap:
Alfredo Simon‘s first pitch of the ball game to lead-off batter Juan Lagares was a fastball taken for strike one. Lagares soon fanned on a check swing. Matt den Dekker drew a walk. David Wright‘s single put runners on the corners. With Lucas Duda at the plate, Wright stole second. Duda then fanned. Travis d’Arnaud followed with a solid single to left that plated Dekker for the game’s first run. Curtis Granderson then slapped a double down the left field line to score Wright. Travis d’Arnaud advanced to third. Dilson Herrera ended the Mets at-bat with a fly to right.
Staked to a 2-0 lead, Bartolo Colon‘s first pitch of the evening to lead-off batter Billy Hamilton was a fastball taken for strike one. Hamilton fanned on 5 pitches. Todd Frazier then singled to left/center, and was thrown out by Juan Lagares while trying to stretch out a double. Catcher Devin Mesoraco followed, and crushed a Colon offering into the left field stands to cut the Mets lead in half.
Wilmer Flores led-off the 2nd inning with a double to the right/center gap. Next, Bartolo Colon grounded to shortstop Ramon Santiago, who attempted to throw out Flores at third. Flores was initially called out, but after official review, was declared safe. With runners on the corners and no outs, Juan Lagares hit a chopper to third baseman Todd Frazier, who this time successfully threw out Wilmer Flores attempting to score. With 1-out and runners on first and second, Matt den Dekker was caught looking at strike three. David Wright then singled through the right side to load the bases. Lucas Duda followed, and walked to deliver Colon from third and make it a 3-1 Mets lead.
Leading-off the bottom of the 2nd, second baseman Brandon Phillips blooped a single to right. First baseman Brayan Pena followed with another single to right putting runners on the corners. Next, left fielder Jason Bourgeois hit a come-backer to Colon, who misplayed the ball for an E-1. Phillips scored from third on the play. A 1-out sacrifice bunt by Alfredo Simon advanced the runners to second and third, but Billy Hamilton ended the frame on a 5-3 put-out.
- Through 3 innings pitched, Bartolo Colon allowed 2 earned runs on 5 hits. He walked none and fanned one. He threw 41 pitches with 25 (60.9%) going for strikes. He also committed one error in the field.
Juan Lagares led-off the 4th inning with a single, and advanced to second on Dekker’s 1-3 put-out. Lucas Duda was intentionally walked with 2-outs. Travis d’Arnaud made the Reds pay for that decision with a 3-run home run hit deep into the left field seats.
For the Reds, J.J. Hoover entered the game in the 5th in relief of Alfredo Simon. With 1-out, Wilmer Flores greeted Cincinnati’s pitcher with another home run (this time into the second deck in left) for a 7-2 Mets lead.
Bartolo Colon completed his third straight scoreless inning in the 5th.
For Cincinnati, Ryan Dennick entered the game in the 6th in relief of J.J. Hoover. With 1-out, David Wright singled. With 2-outs, Travis d’Arnaud singled. Curtis Granderson then crushed a Dennick fastball deep into the right field seats to give the Mets a commanding 10-2 lead. Pitcher Logan Ondrusek was brought in to relieve Ryan Dennick, who recorded the third out.
- Through 6 innings of work, Bartolo Colon allowed 2 earned runs on 7 hits and one walk. He fanned a pair. He was up to 76 pitches with 48 (63%) going for strikes.
The Mets kept at it in the 7th. With 2-outs, Matt den Dekker walked and scored on David Wright‘s double for the Mets 11th run of the game. Logan Ondrusek then loaded the bases by issuing walks to Lucas Duda and Travis d’Arnaud, and was relieved. Pitcher Daniel Corcino entered the game. Curtis Granderson was then retired on a 3-1 put-out to end the threat.
Bartolo Colon retired his 9th straight batter in the bottom of the 7th, and called it a night.
- Bartolo Colon‘s Line: 7 innings, allowed 2 earned runs on 7 hits and 1 walk. He fanned a pair. Colon threw 85 pitches with 55 (64%) going for strikes. He improved his record to 13-11, and lowered his ERA from 4.01 to a 3.96 mark.
Dilson Herrera joined the hit parade with a lead-off home run in the 8th.
Buddy Carlyle entered the game in the bottom of the 8th in relief of Bartolo Colon and promptly surrendered a lead-off home run to Todd Frazier.
Leading-off the top of the 9th, Josh Satin reached on a HBP. Lucas Duda then deposited the Mets 5th home run of the game over the center field fence to give the Mets a 14-3 lead.
With 1-out and 2 on base, Carlos Contreras relieved Daniel Corcino in the top of the 9th, and recorded the final 2 outs.
For the Mets, Erik Goeddel entered the game to pitch the 9th. The Reds remained uncooperative to the end, scoring a pair of runs to make it a 14-5 game, and final score.
Scoring Summary:
- Top 1st inning – Matt den Dekker drew a 1-out walk. David Wright singled sending Dekker to third. Wright stole second. With 2-outs, Travis d’Arnaud singled to score Dekker. Curtis Granderson‘s double scored David Wright.
- Bottom 1st inning – With 2-outs, Devin Mesoraco hit a solo home run.
- Top 2nd inning – Lucas Duda drew a 2-out walk with the bases loaded to score Bartolo Colon from third.
- Bottom 2nd inning – Brandon Phillips hit a lead-off single. Brayan Pena singled to put runners on the corners. An error by Bartolo Colon off the bat of Jason Bourgeois allowed Phillips to score from third.
- Top 4th inning – Juan Lagares led-off with a single. With 2-outs, Lucas Duda was intentionally walked. Travis d’Arnaud followed with a 3-run home run to deep left.
- Top 5th inning – With 1-out, Wilmer Flores homered into the second deck in left to give the Mets a 7-2 lead.
- Top 6th inning – David Wright reached on a 1-out single. Travis d’Arnaud hit a 2-out single. Curtis Granderson hit a 3-run home run to right, giving the Mets a 10-2 lead.
- Top 7th inning – Matt den Dekker drew a 2-out walk. David Wright doubled, scoring Matt den Dekker.
- Top 8th inning – Dilson Herrera hit a lead-off home run.
- Bottom 8th inning – Todd Frazier hit a lead-off home run to make it a 12-3 game.
- Top 9th inning – With Josh Satin on base, Lucas Duda‘s home run to center field gave the Mets a 14-3 lead.
- Bottom 9th inning – Pinch hitter Chris Heisey led-off with a single. Ramon Santiago hit a 1-out single. A wild pitch advanced the runners. Jack Hannahan‘s single scored both runners.
- Final Score: Mets 14; REDS 5
Highlights:
- A fan in the left field seats made a nifty catch of Devin Mesoraco‘s 1st inning home run with his baseball cap, while holding his beer in the other hand, and with his female friend by his side. Friday night in Cincinnati…
- The Flushing Power Co. – that was home run #13 for Travis d’Arnaud, #3 for Wilmer Flores, #17 for Curtis Granderson, #2 for Dilson Herrera, and #27 for Lucas Duda. The Mets achieved season highs with 14 runs and 5 home runs, and tied a season high with 18 hits. They were 6 for 18 (.333) with RISP. The Mets got 12 RBI from their #’s 3, 4, 5, and 6 hitters.
- David Wright – 4 for 5, double, RBI, 2 runs scored.
- Travis d’Arnaud – 3 for 4, home run, walk, 4 RBI, 2 runs scored.
- Dilson Herrera – 3 for 5, home run, walk.
- It’s not easy being green: The Reds were trimmed in their Irish Heritage greens for Friday night’s drubbing.
Next:
9/6 Saturday, 4:10pm (EST) – Mets @ REDS
Dillon Gee (6-6) vs. Johnny Cueto (16-8)