The Mets scored more runs in their 7-run fifth inning in last night's 9-6 victory than they had in their previous three games combined which should indicate to you how starved they've been for runs and how sudden the eruption came that had eluded them for so long.
Whether it was God or simply an errant pitch by a shaky Ryan Glyn, Beltran hit his first-ever homer for the Mets in a game without Pedro Martinez pitching, a 3 run shot in a seven run fifth inning which effectively ended the Mets scoring drought, ended the Mets losing streak and allowed the Mets to escape a surprisingly pesky Oakland with at least one victory in hand.
Hardly what you would have expected when the Mets first flew out West to begin this trip but in the never-ending hegira to escape the penultimate season-stifling slump, being happy with 1 win out of 3 games against the dregs of the AL West is something we'll just have to swallow. Whether we digest it or vomit it back up remains to be seen but for the moment, one is win is better than none.
In addition to Beltran's unusual Pedro-less homer, Mike Piazza hit his first homer since May 9 at Wrigley Field, the first in 98 at-bats, the longest homerless streak of his 13-year career, ironically, the All-Time leading homerun hitting catcher wasn't catching but DHing in the game. The "real" catcher, the guy who can throw out would-be base stealers on occasion rather than one or two hopping every throw to second base, Ramon Castro, added three RBIs of his own.
In a move designed to spark some life into lifeless bats, Manager Willie moved David Wright in the No. 2 spot for the first time this season and started Brian Daubach at first over Doug Mientkiewicz. Daubach drew threw walks and scored twice, Wright managed only one hit but made it count with an rbi single just prior to Beltran's blast in the fifth.
Kris Benson (5-2) settled down after some early struggles to record his third straight victory. He allowed three runs on seven hits over six innings, walking two, striking out no one.
Newcomer Danny Graves demonstrated ample reason for even the lowly Cincinnati Reds to have dumped him, following a scoreless one-inning debut two nights ago by allowing four hits and three runs in a lone inning of "work" and nearly letting the A's back in a game that had been a laugh with a 9-3 lead. Braden Looper managed to save the game in the ninth, his 13th save of the season which now includes 12 attempts in a row.
*****
Unreasonably happy to escape Oakland with a win, the Mets will now move northward to Seattle for the first time ever.
Kaz Ishii, who should never be allowed to pitch beyond the 5th inning as he sports his plus 15.00 ERA from the 6th inning on, will face the Mariners first. The Mariners just took 2 of 3 from the Phillies, proving the Mets weren't the only NL East team surprised by a lowly squad from the AL West.
Ishii versus Ichiro should have baseball fans in Japan swooning with pride and delight.
Jamie Moyer will pitch for Seattle and the Mets best chance will be to jump on him early as he sports a 7.11 ERA in the first inning.
Jose Reyes is currently on a 2 for 23 skid whilst waiting for Mike Cameron to return to the starting lineup and bump him from the leadoff spot.
Kaz Matsui, banged up by a hard slide into second by Jason Kendall, will likely miss at least the opening game of the series.
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