The Mets had their chance in the top of the 9th, losing 1-0. They loaded the bases after Jose Reyes doubled, Cardinals ace Mark Mulder, pitching on fumes, walked Carlos Beltran and then hit Carlos Delgado to load the bases with only one out and present the Mets with their best scoring opportunity all evening.
Carlos Delgado grimaces whilst avoiding Mulder's pitch and thinking about Jose Lima's start tomorrow
Jason Isringhausen was then summoned from the pen to face David Wright in a make or break finale to a tight game. Jason Isringhausen, the righty closer, (talking about bonehead Met trades) once traded by the Mets with Greg McMichael to the Oakland Athletics for Billy Taylor. Billy Taylor, the same Billy Taylor appeared in 19 games for the Mets in 1999 and who hasn't pitched in the Major Leagues since 2001.
Wright, who has otherwise hit well on this road trip and is a career .533 hitter with the bases loaded, struck out. Wright, who is 0-for-6 with the bases loaded this year.
That left hopes dangling on Cliff Floyd. Cliff Floyd, who is hitting .198 this season. No pinch hitter, like sizzling switch hitter Jose Valentin who is hitting .545 over the last week. Just "Cliff Floyd" as though Willie had fallen asleep in the dugout or was watching the Yankees-Rangers game in the clubhouse, dreaming of Chen Ming Wang and holding Joe Torre's hand.
So Floyd, after creating a brief episode of suspense, working the count to 2 and 2, pulled the ball directly to first baseman Albert Pujols, who gloved the grounder easily and jogged over to the bag for the final out. It was the second time the Mets have been shut out this season.
Some more interesting figures to drown in your beer:
1. It was Trachsel's second straight shutout loss. He was the losing pitcher in the rain-shortened, 4 1/2-inning game in Philadelphia last Thursday. Trachsel has lost 1-0 games seven times in his career, four times with Mets. He is 9-9 for his career against the Cardinals, but hasn’t beaten them since Sept. 22, 1999, when he was with the Cubs.
2. The Mets last 1-0 defeat was Sept. 19, 2004, at Pittsburgh, one of three 1-0 losses that season.
3. St Louis ranks 3rd in America on the most courteous driver list
4. Left handed hitters have had their way against Jose Desiderio Rodriguez Lima so far -- .357 batting average, .474 on-base percentage and .643 slugging percentage. Jason Marquis who will be pitching for the Cards, went 1-1 with a sparkling 1.80 ERA in two starts against the Mets last season, allowing three earned runs in 15 innings pitched.
On paper, this looks like a route.
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1 comment:
Thanks Crooks, memo to Willie: you're a fucking yankee philosphising wanker.
Christ how I wish Bobby V was still our manager!
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