Revenge is a dish best served by Ryan Church and Brian Schneider.
The ex-Nationals really handed it to their old team, combining to go 5-8, scoring three and driving in five as the Mets took the second game of the four game set by a score of 6-3.
The Mets got another stellar start from John Maine, as he extended his streak of only allowing two runs or less to eight straight starts, allowing just two runs on two hits through six innings. Maine struck out five and walked only one, needing 109 pitches to get through his night.
In the second inning, the Mets got on the board with a bases loaded fielders choice off the bat of Brian Schneider, driving in Moises Alou.
The Mets had the bases loaded with no one out, and managed to scratch out only one run. Something like that needs to change. To score a run without hitting the ball out of the infield is something special though.
The only runs Maine allowed came on a Ryan Zimmerman two run home run after a Damion Easley error. The error, one of two for Easley on the night, allowed Christian Guzman to reach, and later score on Zimmerman's homer to left field. Maine set down 10 in order after the home run, and only had one runner on base due to Easley's second error with two outs in the sixth. Maine bounced back and got Austin Kearns to strike out looking to end his night.
If it wasn't for Johan Santana, Maine would be the far and away ace of this pitching staff. Dominant, in control, and settled down. Simple beautiful. I think he could have gone another inning, easily, but his turn in the order came up in the bottom of the sixth, and the pinch hitter paid off for the Mets. Well done, John. Keep it up.
Church had an amazing day, starting it off with a solo home run to center field to lead off the third inning. Church's ball just missed nailing the home run apple.
I love this guy. I'm sure you've heard that from me before, but I have to say it again. What a steal.
In the sixth, Church kept his hot day going, bringing in two with a double to right. After Brian Schneider and Fernando Tatis both hit one out singles, Church came to the plate with two outs and runners on first and second. Church smoked a ball to right field, a ball that seemed like an easy out for Kearns to end the inning. I'm not sure if Kearns misplayed it or if the ball just hung up in the air, but the ball sailed over the jumping Kearns glove and bounced to the wall, driving in both Schneider and Tatis.
Good? Yes. Lucky? Yes. Will he take it? Yes.
He is getting things done in every way, shape, and form.
Matt Wise made his first appearance in a long while, allowing one run on one hit. Elijah Dukes doubled to left for his first hit of the year. Rob Mackowiack eventually drove him home with a ground ball to second base. Duaner Sanchez walked two batters in the eighth inning, but worked out of a jam without any damage, striking out one.
Strange to bring in a pitcher who hasn't been in the majors in a while and toss him into the fire with a two run lead. This will be questioned by the Willie Randolph haters, for sure. Good stuff from Sanchez, who as Gary Cohen pointed out, has had a few miles per hour knocked off his fastball from the accident. Hopefully he can work back to that over time, but if he's consistently good, it really won't matter.
In the 8th, the Mets tacked on some insurance runs. Jose Reyes broke up his 0-fer night with an RBI single up the middle, driving in Schneider. Church followed that up with a sacrifice fly to right field, plating Marlon Anderson.
Billy Wagner allowed a two out hit, but slammed the door on the Nationals for his eighth save of the year. He still has not allowed an earned run to score.
Keep on truckin'.
Game Ball: Church.
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