Live Game Blog: Mets @ Dodgers -- 5/5

Sorry!!! Picking up in the top of the second...

Second inning:

• Carlos Beltran lines out to James Loney for the first out.
• Ryan Church drives a 2-2 pitch into center field for a one out single.
• Angel Pagan, fresh off a beautiful diving grab into the stand in the bottom of the first, singles to left. Church moves to second.
• Marlon Anderson, starting for Carlos Delgado, works the count full against Brad Penny. Anderson drives one deep to center field, well over the head of Matt Kemp. The ball bounces on the warning track and skips over the top of the wall for a ground rule double. Church scores, Pagan held at third. 1-0 Mets.
• Raul Casanova pulls one through the hole on the right side. Pagan trots home and Anderson is waved around. Throw home isn't even close and the Mets score two more. 3-0 Mets. They're stringing together hits!!!
• John Maine bunts it back to the pitcher, moving Casanova to second.
• Ball four to Jose Reyes. Two on for Luis Castillo. 47 pitches for Penny. Does this mean Hong-Chih Kuo is coming out?! PLEASE NO!!!!!
• Castillo delivers with a ground ball up the middle. Casanova "rumbles" around third to score. Reyes moves to second. 4-0 Mets.
• David Wright goes down swinging to end the inning.
• 4 runs, 5 hits, 0 BB, 1 K. 4-0 Mets.

• Wright continues to make beautiful plays on tough balls, swiping the ball off a bounce from Jeff Kent and making a nice throw to Anderson for the first out.
• James Loney grounds one to Castillo, who flips it to Anderson.
• Called strike three to Russel Martin. Nice, quick, crisp inning.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 1 K. 4-0 Mets.

Third inning:

• Beltran rips one to the third base side of short, and Chin-lung Hu can't make the grab. Single to left for Beltran.
• With Beltran running, Church gets busted in on the hands. Church gets some wood on it as his bat explodes at the handle. The ball dinks in behind Jeff Kent as Beltran goes to third on Church's single to short right.
• Pagan grounds one to Kent at second. With Pagan's speed, they have no chance at a double play. Beltran scores. 5-0 Mets.
• Anderson just missed a home run, driving one to the warning track on the fly. Two away.
• With Casanova batting, the Dodgers pitch out with Pagan running. Perfect throw, but Pagan still beats it. Good stuff. Casanova grounds one up the middle, but Kent tracks it down and makes a falling away throw. With Casanova lumbering up the line, Kent had more than enough time to put him away.
• 1 run, 2 hits, 0 BB, 0 K. 5-0 Mets.

• Endy Chavez is taking over for Pagan in left. His shoulder has to be bothering him from his dive into the stands. Hope he's all right. According to David Lennon, Pagan was not happy, throwing equipment around the dugout.
  
• Last night's hero, Blake DeWitt grounds out to Delgado, who makes the flip to Maine covering first.
• Hu doubles down the first base line for the first hit of the game off of Maine. And there goes the no hitter.
• Penny swings at the first pitch, popping a ball foul to Wright at third.
• Juan Pierre grounds out to Reyes at short to end the inning.
• 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 BB, 0 K. 5-0 Mets.

Fourth inning:

• Maine grounds out to DeWitt for the first out of the inning.
• Penny is up to 69 pitches while facing Reyes here with one out in the fourth inning. 3-1 pitch and Reyes grounds out to Kent. Don't let Penny get into a rhythm.
• Castillo rips one down the third base line and pulls into second with his third double of the year.
• Wright is swinging at almost everything, fouling off the first two pitches, both of which looked like they would have been balls. He grounds out to DeWitt, who makes the long throw across the diamond to end the top half of the inning.
• 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 BB, 0 K. 5-0 Mets.

• First pitch to Eithier grounded to second. Maine's 31st pitch of the day.
• Kemp batting, works the count to 2-2, before striking out swinging on a high fastball.
• 1-1 pitch to Maine goes high and inside and Kent has to hit the decks to get out of the way of that ball. Full count to Kent now. Gary just said "recombobulated." That's a new one. Check swing, and he went around, strike three to end the inning.
• 0 run, 0 hits, 0 BB, 2 K. 5-0 Mets.

Fifth inning:

• Full count to Beltran. Really making Penny work today. Beltran smokes one to first, but Loney makes a beautiful diving stab on the ball. He flips to Penny covering. One away.
• Church barely gets nicked by a ball inside. Looked like it might have touched his jersey and both benches have now been warned. Church is on base for the third straight time.
• Chavez is taking his first swings of the game. Chavez goes down swinging for only Penny's second strike out.
• Anderson checks his swings, but grounds one slowly to Hu at short. Hu is slow to field it and Anderson beats the throw to first for an infield single.
• Casanova walks out a walk, loading the bases for Maine.
• Maine gets fooled as his knees buckle on strike one and flails at a slider away for strike two. Maine then bloops a pitch into shallow center field, driving home Church and Anderson. 7-0 Mets.
• Penny walks Reyes, loading the bases for Castillo.
• Penny's day is done, and Scott Proctor will take over for LA.
• Proctor promptly walks Castillo with the bases loaded, driving in another run. 8-0 Mets.
• Wright makes up for his 0-fer day, crushes a ball to deep left field, over the head of Pierre. Two runs score as the ball skips into stands for a ground rule double. 10-0 Mets.
• With Beltran batting, Proctor throws a wild pitch in the dirt, bringing home Castillo. Wright moves to third. 11-0 Mets. And Beltran becomes another notch in the trivia book, making both the first and the last out of the inning.
• 6 runs, 3 hits, 3 BB, 0 K. 11-0 Mets.

• Maine is only at 43 pitches. Loney smacks a double into the gap for the Dodgers second hit of the game. Beltran almost had it, but it was just a few feet out of his reach.
• Now Maine is struggling, and after a long at bat, Martin walks. Maine is now up to 61 pitches on the inning without recording an out.
• Maine bounces back and strikes out DeWitt for the first out of the inning.
• Hu grounds a ball to second. Castillo attempts a tag on Martin, but pulls away and throws to first for the first out. Delgado then throws to Reyes, who tags out Martin on the basepath. Perfectly executed double play.
• 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 BB, 1 K. 11-0 Mets.

Sixth inning:

• First pitch from Proctor in the sixth, Church crushes it over the wall in right for a solo home run. I love that man.
• Chavez flies out to center.
• Anderson strikes out swinging.
• Casanova drives a ball to deep center, and Casanova "glides" into second with a double.
• Maine goes down swinging on a ball low and away to end the inning.
• 1 run, 2 hits, 0 BB, 2 K. 12-0 Mets.

• Mark Sweeney pinch hitting for the Dodgers. Sweeney grounds the fourth pitch he sees to Castillo, who makes the sidearm throw to Delgado for the first out.
• Pierre lines one right into the glove of Reyes, two away.
• Ethier pops one up to shallow left, Chavez comes in and makes the play. Quick inning as Maine is only up to 76 pitches through six.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 0 K. 12-0 Mets.

Seventh inning:

• Is anyone still reading this? Haha. Hit the comments if you are, otherwise I'm suspending it soon and starting on my recap.
• Chan Ho Park is pitching.
  
• Reyes grounds out to second for the first out of the inning.
• Castillo grounds out to short for the second out of the inning. (Yes, I know those are the same sentences with different names and positions.)
• Wright grounds out to short for the third out of the inning. That was easy.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 0 K. 12-0 Mets.

And that's it for me. This is an absolute blow out. If you're still reading, I'm sorry, but my arm is cramping and I have an 8 page paper to do later (It's due Friday, don't worry Dad.) so I'll be back later with the game recap. Thanks for reading and please stick around and come back as much as possible! And don't be afraid to comment and have your voice heard!

Live Game Blog: Mets @ Cubs -- 4/22

Welcome to another round of liveblogging from yours truly. Feel free to hit the comments to discuss the game. Enjoy.

Pre-game:

• Weather may be an issue today, but the game will get in no matter what.
• HERE is the lineup. Few changes today.
• Ted Lilly is sporting an ERA over nine. That should be good news for the Metties.
• Both NY teams are in Chicago. Second time in history, says Gary Cohen.
  

First inning:

• Lilly doesn't like the mound very much and is kicking the dirt around everywhere. 82 mph fastball in for strike one against Jose Reyes. Nasty curveball on pitch two. Slow grounder to second base, but not slow enough for Reyes to beat it to the bag. Throw beats him by two steps.
• Angel Pagan is playing in right today and batting second. Low strike zone today, it seems. Pagan crushes one, unfortunately, very foul. Lilly's curve is insane. I don't know how anyone can ever hit that. Pagan swings at a breaking ball way high, strike three.
• Lilly is getting very ahead on hitters today. Gotten two strikes on everyone so far. He's working the zone high too. Wright works the count even, 2-2. Guess I'm wrong about the low strike zone. Lilly just misses below the knees for ball three before popping up to right field for the final out.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 1 K. 0-0 Tie.

• Creepy Asian bear on TV. Don't know what to make of that. The Fukudome craze is in full swing.
• Nelson Figueroa delivers a first pitch strike to Reed Johnson, and follows that up with a nasty curveball for strike two. Johnson pokes one to center, but Carlos Beltran tracks it down for the first out.
• Felix Pie now batting. Ripped a three run blast last night off of Jorge Sosa. Pie pops up into foul territory to Wright.
• Full count to Derrek Lee. Grounded back to Figueroa, who makes the underhand flip to Carlos Delgado.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 0 K. 0-0 Tie.

Second inning:

• I think Lilly is angry at the strike zone so far. He stared right in at the ump after throwing ball one. Don't think he liked that call. Beltran has the count 2-2. High fly ball to Johnson in left field, who settles and puts it away.
• Delgado goes down on four pitches. Swinging at a breaking ball low and away. Rough.
• Here's Damion Easley, spelling Luis Castillo. Popped up behind the first base bag, and Lee snags it to put away Easley. Lilly is coasting.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 1 K. 0-0 Tie.

• Figueroa bounces the first pitch to Aramis Ramirez. Watch out for this guy, he's got power. Working Ramirez low and in today. Nasty curveball to even the count at 2-2. Ramirez works out a walk. First time all year Figueroa allows a leadoff hitter of an inning to reach base. Wow. Well done, Figueroa.
• Kosuke Fukudome up. Great name. Grounded past Delgado at first and into right field. Ramirez goes first to third. Tough play for Delgado, but he just could not get to that ball.
• Figueroa is behind Mark DeRosa 2-1. 88 mph fastball right by DeRosa's bat. Evened up. Raul Casanova calls time, and heads out to the mound to talk things over. Ball low and away, full count. Ball four, outside. Bases loaded, nobody out. Uh-oh.
• Ronny Cedeno up with the bases loaded. Looks familiar, doesn't it? Figueroa ahead 0-2 after a foul tip off the mask of Casanova. 90 mph fastball on the outside corner, strike three looking.
• Henry Blanco comes to the plate and promptly ground into a 6-4-3 double play. Well done, Figueroa. Way to get out of that jam.
• 0 runs, 1 hit, 2 BB, 1 K. 0-0 Tie.

Third inning:

• Brady Clark flies one to right field for the first out. Take advantage of all of these opportunities, Clark. Unfortunately, your days are numbered.
• Lilly is behind Casanova 3-1. Look to rip one. Well, as I type that, he does, but it's right to the centerfielder. Can't blame that one on the wind.
• Figueroa batting. Strikes out on a nasty curveball. Ouch. Lilly is perfect through three.
  
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 1 K. 0-0 Tie.

• Lilly quickly pops out to Easley in shallow center. Is it me, or do infielders go into the outfield a lot more lately?
• Figueroa's curveball is absolutely dirty today. It's like a curve/slider. Johnson down on three pitches as he strikes out swinging.
• Pie rips one down the line to first, takes a really bad hop, skipping over Delgado's glove. Ruled a hit. Another very tough play for Delgado.
• When Figueroa misses, he doesn't miss by much. He's missing just outside, just low, just everywhere but the plate. He looks good though. I do think someone it going to wait on his curve ball and rip it. Lee tries to, and pulls the breaking ball to right, but Clark barely has to move to put it away.
• 0 runs, 1 hit, o BB, 1 K. 0-0 Tie.

Fourth inning:

• I despise that hitch in Lilly's delivery. As a hitter, that would both me immensely. According to Gary, the Mets haven't had a base runner since the sixth inning in yesterday's game. Reyes goes down swinging for the first out. Not good.
• Pagan fakes a bunt and Lilly throws a 40 footer. That was ugly. Pagan inside-outs one down the first base line, but it falls just foul. Pagan stings one into center field, driving the ball all the way to the brown ivy in center. Pagan speeds into second with a double. He thought about going for three, but slid to stop himself and scurried back to second. The Mets first hit and baserunner.
• Lilly is way behind Wright 3-0 and he'll be taking all the way as he lays a fastball right down the middle. Gotta get a hit here, Beltran and Delgado are cold. He got nothing to hit, as Wright walks.
• Beltran is quickly in the hole 0-2. Awesome. Dirty 12-6 curveball misses high. Beltran seems to be lunging for a lot of pitches. I think he needs to take a few steps toward the plate. Beltran works the count full, 3-2. Good stuff. The payoff pitch with the runners going, and it's low for ball four. Bases loaded, one away for...
• Carlos Delgado. He needs to come through big here, or the fans will come down even harder. First pitch, fouled away. Second one, blooped to shallow left and Cedeno goes out from his shortstop position to make the play. Obviously, way too short to bring home Pagan from third. Delgado needs to hit the pine.
  
• It's up to Easley. First pitch popped to shallow center, as DeRosa goes out and ends the threat. What is with the Mets and the pitchers duel?
  
• 0 runs, 1 hit, 2 BB, 1 K. 0-0 Tie.

• Ramirez waits on the curveball, but pops it up deep to left. Clark, sporting shades, settles under it and makes the catch.
• Fukudome singles through the hole on the right side, his second of the game. He's pretty good. I get why Cub fans love him.
• DeRosa rips one deep to center field, but Beltran makes the catch on the warning track. Good rip from DeRosa. Figueroa was lucky he hit it to straightaway center.
• Cedeno knocks a ball the other way, down the first base line. Pagan can't make the play and boots the ball off the hop. He kicks it around against the wall in right, allowing Fukudome to come all the way around to score. Total misplay by Pagan. 1-0 Cubs.
• Mets issue the intentional walk to Blanco.
• Lilly grounds one softly to second base. Delgado thinks about making a play on it, thinks better, and starts to go to first. He spies Figueroa coming over from first, who slowed down when Delgado started back to first. Delgado turns away, thinking Figueroa will make the play. Easley eventually flips to Figueroa, but not in time to get Lilly. The bases are loaded. Bonehead play by Delgado.
• Johnson singles off the end of the bat to left field, scoring Cedeno and Blanco. 3-0 Mets. This is just a miserable inning.
• Pie grounds one over the bag at first, but Delgado is there and actually makes the play, ending the inning.
• 3 runs, 4 hits, 1 BB, 0 K. 3-0 Cubs.

Fifth inning:

• 7-8-9 of the order up this inning. Clark leading off, singles to right field. Only the second hit of the game for the Mets.
• Where is Casanova's power? I'm yet to see it this season. He grounds one slowly to third base. Only play is to first. Clark moves to second on the play.
• Figueroa laces one to short, too fast to move Clark over. Cedeno to Lee, two away.
• The SNY crew is having a field day with the seating arrangements on the adjacent roofs. They can't stop talking about the hand operated scoreboard either.
• Reyes works out a walk, which will bring the tying run to the plate.
• Pagan up with a chance to atone for his mistakes in the field. Nasty curveball lands in for a strike, and Lilly is ahead 0-2. The crowd is on their feet. Whenever there is a ball in the dirt or one that might get away from the catcher, Pagan is sure to signal the runners if they should move or not. Good stuff. Pagan pops up the 2-2 fastball to DeRosa at second, threat averted for the Cubs.
• 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 BB, 0 K. 3-0 Cubs.

• Figueroa's thrown 68 pithes so far. Very conservative. Now Figueroa can't seem to find the plate, missing inside and out. Almost pegs Lee, but issues a walk instead.
• Still having a hard time finding the plate. Ramirez pops out to Pagan in left, one away.
• The pesky Fukudome is up. Joe Smith and Pedro Feliciano are up in the pen. Only stretching though. Fukudome walks. Figueroa's having a rough go this inning. Someone go talk to him.
• Figueroa is up over 80 pitches now. Here comes Rick Peterson. It's about time. DeRose knocks one into right, and Pagan takes a long and loopy journey to the ball, helped by the wind. Pagan makes a basket catch along the line, as Lee tags up and goes to third on the second out.
• Cedeno lines one to right, but Pagan is there, again, to make the out. All three outs made by Pagan that inning.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 2 BB, 0 K. 3-0 Mets.

Sixth inning:

• Wright grounds out to short to begin the sixth. Is Lilly pitching that well or is the Mets offense that bad?
• Beltran works out a four pitch walk. Hey, look! Beltran is on base!
• What is this? Delgado has the count 3-1, on the brink of walking. Even better!! He smokes a single to right field. Beltran has to hold up, but makes to to second in time. Mets are threatening here with two on and one out.
• Lilly's looking tired out there, as the Cubs bullpen kicks it into gear. (Scott Schoeneweis is up and throwing in the Mets pen.) 1-2 count on Easley. Inconsistent strike zone today, at least in my opinion. Easley bloops one to right field, which falls in front of Fukudome. The Mets have the bases loaded for Clark.
• Lilly is up to 100 pitches, probably spelling the end of his day soon. Big swing by Clark, but he misses it for strike two. Lilly attempts the curveball, and due to a quick reaction from Clark, he fouls it away. Clark dinks one to second, shorthopping it to DeRosa. Easley out at second on the flip, but Beltran comes home. 3-1 Cubs.
• Casanova up with runners on the corners. A very loud "Let's go Mets!" chant throughout Wrigley. Cruveball, grounded softly to short. Cedeno makes the short toss to DeRosa at second to end the inning.
• 1 run, 2 hits, 1 BB, 0 K. 3-1 Cubs.

• Blanco leading off for the Cubs. Figueroa still in the game. Blanco singles past the stumbling Reyes for his first hit of the game.
• Mark Fontenot will bat for Lilly and that will also be the end of the day for Figueroa. Schoeneweis will enter the game for the Mets.
• Figueroa's final line: 5+ IP, 7 hits, 3 ER, 5 BB, 2 K. Generous scoring for the home team. I think two of those runs should have been unearned. Not terrible, but not great. One OK start.
• Fontenot sacrifices himself, bunting up the first base line. Nice play by Schoeneweis to field the ball and make the throw and equally nice play by Easley who needed some fancy footwork to cover first. Blanco moves to second.
  
• Schoeneweis is behind Johnson 3-1. Now he walks him with a ball off the plate. First and second, one away. Smith is waiting in the wings if Lee makes it to the plate.
• Pie taps one a few feet in front of the plate, up the first base line. Casanova fields the ball and makes a great throw to first. That's the second time in two days he's made a play like that. Well done.
• Double switch here. Endy Chavez will go into left and Smith will come in to pitch to Lee. Smith will bat seventh, Chavez will leadoff in the seventh.
• Lee crushes the ball to straightaway center. Beltran goes back, jumping into the ivy and makes the grab. He's so valuable in the field.
• 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 BB, 0 K. 3-1 Cubs.

Seventh inning:

• Bob Howry now pitching for the Cubs.
• He's dealing to Chavez, making his first plate appearance after coming in on the double switch last inning. Chavez hits one right to Cendeno at short. One away.
• Reyes fakes a bunt, but takes the pitch for a strike. 1-1 count. Another pitch taken for a strike. Fourth pitch is in the dirt at Reyes' feet, and he dances out of the way. Reyes grounds one to DeRosa at second, flipped to Lee for the second out.
• Another ball grounded to DeRosa, and he puts it away for the third out.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 0 K. 3-1 Cubs.

• Smith still in for the Mets. Full count to Ramirez. He pulls one through the hole on the left side for a single.
• Again, the pesky Fukudome is up. Fukudome crushes one to deep center, this time well out of the reach of Beltran. Beltran plays it nicely off the ivy, making a barehanded grab off the bounce. Fukudome in with a stand up double and Ramirez moves to third.
• DeRosa singles over the head of Easley at second, and Ramirez trots home. Fukudome is held up at third as Pagan gets the throw in on the fly to Casanova. 4-1 Cubs.
• 2-2 count to Cedeno. Smith is struggling here. Smith misses outside, and the count is full. Cedeno chases a slider wayyyyy outside, striking out.
• Feliciano will enter the game for the Mets and Geovany Soto will pinch hit for the Cubs.
• First pitch from Feliciano way inside, Casanova can't contain it and DeRosa moves to second on the wild pitch. Another pitch way inside, almost hits Soto. Now the Mets will issue the intentional walk to Soto to set up the double play.
• Feliciano will be removed from the game in favor of Jorge Sosa. This is the third time in a week that Feliciano has entered the game and not retired a batter.
• Sosa will pitch to Matt Murton. Sosa behind Murton 2-1. Strike on the inside corner. Murton reaches for one and lines it foul down the right field line, almost nailing Duaner Sanchez in the bullpen. Murton grounds one to Delgado, playing on the grass, comes home and gets the out at the plate. Two away, bases still loaded.
• Johnson up with the bases loaded again. Count is even at 2-2. I've never seen a team foul off as many balls as the Cubs do. It's unbelievable. Johnson pops one up to second base, Easley settles under it, and ends the inning.
• 1 run, 3 hits, 0 BB, 1 K. 4-1 Cubs.

Eighth inning:

• Carlos Marmol is in for the Cubs. He's nasty.
• Wright works the count full. Baserunners are needed. Badly. Wright knocks one to right center, but Pie tracks it down on the warning track. One away.
• Beltran has the count 2-2. Marmol is dealing. Beltran swings over the slider, something we see way too much from him, striking out. Two away.
• Delgado swings at a pitch way high, striking out. Ugh. Looks like this team is going down without a fight.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 2 K. 4-1 Cubs.

• Pie singles off of Sosa to right field to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning.
• Lee picks up his first hit of the day, singling through the right side. Pie moves to second base. Are the Mets giving up? Looks like it.
• Ramirez crushes one to left, but Chavez has room on the warning track for the first out. A quick throw keeps the runners at bay.
  
• Sosa throws inside for a strike, then outside for another strike to get ahead of Fukudome 0-2. It's now evened up at 2-2. Sosa delivers what looks like strike three, but he doesn't get the call. After being ahead 0-2, he walks Fukudome to load the bases.
• The Mets bullpen is empty, so this is on Sosa. Looks like the Mets are handing this one away. DeRosa, on the first pitch, grounds to short. The Mets are playing in, and I don't know why, so Reyes comes home for the second out. Bases are still loaded. I don't get that, at all.
• Sosa gives up another home run, this one to the tune of four runs, as Cedeno crushes his first grand slam just fair down the left field line. 8-1 Cubs.
• Soto singles over Reyes at short.
• You know the game is out of hand when: Jason Marquis will pinch hit. Marquis is a pitcher, for those not up to snuff on the Cubbies. He's a decent hitter, but still. Full count to Marquis. Popped up to Reyes to end the inning.
• 4 runs, 4 hits, 1 BB, 0 K. 8-1 Cubs.

Ninth inning:

• The Mets look absolutely terrible today. This is easily the worst all around game they've played all year.
• Kevin Hart is pitching for the Cubs.
• Easley grounds one to the left side, past the outstretched arm of Ramirez. Cedeno comes up with it and makes the cross-body throw to get Easley at first.
• Marlon Anderson is pinch hitting for Sosa in the pitchers spot. Anderson just looks bad this year. Something must be up. Full count for Anderson now. Ball four taken high and outside. Let the rally begin (kidding).
• Casanova singles up the middle, just past Hart. Anderson moves to second.
• Chavez lines one down the line, which apparently lands just foul. Would have been a nice double, but no. Chavez grounds one to first, and is aboard on the fielders choice, Casanova out at second.
• Reyes is the last chance for the Mets here in the top of the ninth. Reyes grounds one to Lee, who flips to Hart covering first. Game over.
• 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 BB, 0 K. 8-1 Cubs.

Cubs 8 -- Mets 1
WP: Ted Lilly
LP: Nelson Figueroa

Thanks for reading.

Live Game Thread: Mets @ Phillies -- 4/18

Mets vs. Phillies.
Santana vs. Hamels.

A great game on paper, let's see how it turns out on the field. Stick around for a blow-by-blow rundown of the game, injected with my own commentary and occasionally witty remarks.

Feel free to discuss the game in the comments.

Pre-game:

• I'm worried about Johan Santana and the long ball tonight. He wants to challenge hitters way too much, and he keeps the ball in the strike zone more than necessary. He needs to throw more junk when he's ahead in the count.

First inning:

• ...And here we go! First pitch to Jose Reyes, a fastball high, fouled back. On the third pitch, Reyes flies one to So Taguchi in right.
• Cole Hamels is dialing it up to 96 mph early on. Behind Ryan Church 3-1, before he gets him swinging on his changeup to push it full. Church walks, and the perfect game is no more.
• Here is David Wright, coming off a hitless night against the Nationals. Carlos Ruiz can't get his grip on a Hamels change, and it squirts away as Church moves to second. That just looked lazy. Wright goes deep and golfs one to the short porch in left. Off the top of the wall and bounces back into play. Church had it read the whole way and scored easily, and Wright slides into second with an RBI double.
• Carlos Beltran, playing after taking a night off due to a sore neck, smokes a ball to Eric Bruntlett at short. Wright is caught off second base and the double play ends the inning.
• 1 run, 1 hit, 1 BB, 0 K. 1-0 Mets.

• First pitch from Santana in there for a called strike one. Third pitch goes well over the head of Brian Schneider. Calmate, Santana. Taguchi thought he had a free pass to first, but he is wrung up on a called strike three. That was not a strike, but rather nice framework from Schneider.
• With Jayson Werth batting, Gary Cohen is mentioning how CBP is so quiet. I've been there, and either the fans are just very, very quiet, or the park is built to reduce noise, or something. Werth pops one out to left for the second out.
• First two pitches to Chase Utley fouled away. Woah...I don't know where that pitch missed. Low, I guess, but that's what's called now. The textbook strikezone is out the window. "On the outside corner, strike three called." Thanks Gary.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 2 K. 1-0 Mets.

Second inning:

• Well that was quick for Carlos Delgado. Good morning, good afternoon, and goodnight. Wide strike zone tonight, that's for sure.
• Angel Pagan pops one foul, behind home. Ruiz puts him away. Keith makes his usual catchers-mask-toss-away comment.
• Schneider singles up the middle as Utley...um...gets stuck on the grass? Looked like he was glued down.
• First two to number eight hitter Luis Castillo fouled away. With Castillo's absolute lack of power, he somehow manages to get one out to left field for Pat Burrell to put away.
• 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 BB, 1 K. 1-0 Mets.

• I love this matchup of Santana and Ryan Howard. Howard goes down swinging at a slider low and away. Good start, Mr. Santana. Now your real test...
• Burrell. He gets a first pitch strike from Johan. Met Killer rips a single to center, tailing away from Beltran. He runs it down in the outfield, keeping Burrell to a long single.
• Why do you hold a guy like Burrell? He's not going anywhere. Pedro Feliz pops out to Beltran in center, who thinks they already have three outs. At least he didn't toss the ball to a fan in the stands.
• Ball in the dirt with two strikes, and Ruiz attempts to check his swing. He fails, and is called out on strikes. Johan's fourth in two innings.
• 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 BB, 2 K. 1-0 Mets.

Third inning:

• Here is Santana at the plate. Think he can smoke one the other way for a home run? Guess not.
• Hamels in danger of walking Reyes on four pitches. And does. Make him pay for it, Jose.
• Church puts a charge into one, to straightaway center field, but Werth has it on the warning track for the second out. It was no Aaron Rowand tracking down a Xavier Nady line drive, that's for sure.
• With Wright batting, Reyes takes off for second. He's in there safe as the throw goes a little high, but he takes a knee to the head and is laying on top of second base as some cheers pour in from the Philly crowd. Trainers are out there, and they're checking for concussions. They're dilating his pupils with a pen light. A concussion would knock him out for about two weeks. He's also holding his mouth, as he probably ate a ton of dirt on that play. Reyes does not want to come out of the game, as he's standing around second trying to work it off. Just read "Oh come on!" off the lips of Reyes. Willie Randolph and Ray Ramirez are trying to coax him out. Surprisingly, Reyes is staying in. Wow.
• Start a new bullet here...Wright cracks the first pitch from Hamels after the delay to center. Werth attempts a dive, but the ball skips past him and back to the warning track. Hamels should have thrown some pitches to stay warm. Reyes scores easily and Wright ends up at third base with a stand up triple.
• Beltran pops out to end the inning.
• 1 run, 1 hit, 1 BB, 1 K. 2-0 Mets.

• Bruntlett pops it up to right field and Church camps out under it and puts it away.
• Pitcher v. pitcher here. These matchups are always fun. Called strike three. Johan notches up number five in the strike out tally.
• What's that? Another strike out! Taguchi goes down swinging. Six for Johan through three. Two an inning, each inning.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 2 K. 2-0 Mets.

Fourth inning:

• Delgado is a career .381 hitter in CBP. 40-105, 8 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR. Three triples? He must really love this place. Delgado makes an attempt to dump one away from Werth, but this time he tracks it down and with a sliding play makes the first out of the inning.
• Broken bat grounder for Pagan, and Feliz makes the long toss around the diamond to get the out.
• Schneider rips his second hit of the night. He pulls one to the left of Taguchi in right. One on with two away for Castillo.
• Soft ground ball to Feliz, who tosses to Howard to end the inning.
• 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 BB, 0 K. 2-0 Mets.

• 1-2 on Werth, and he bails himself out with a strange looking swing. Don't know how he made contact at all there. Dirty changeup from Santana gets Werth swinging. Strikeout number seven.
• Utley pulls one down the first base line, it takes a bad hop and skips right through the five hole of Delgado. Error charged to Delgado, thanks to the Phillies scorer. I'm going to hear it from all the people that hear me proclaim how Delgado is an underrated defensive player.
• Howard's up with one on. The game's momentum could shift to the Phillies with one big swing here. Johan gets him swinging on a slider again. Eight for Santana.
• Burrell is up, and the aforementioned quip about the game shifting in the Phillies favor still rings true. Burrell smokes one to center, but Beltran cuts across and makes the play.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 2 K. 2-0 Mets.

Fifth inning:

• Even with this two run lead and Santana pitching extremely well, it still feels like the Phillies can take this game at any time. Hopefully, this is only me and none of the Mets feel the same way. I have to shake this feeling.
• Santana leading off the inning again. Swinging for the fences. Filthy changeup that started at Santana's head and dropped to the dirt. Santana is down swinging.
• One pitch, one out for Reyes. He grounds out to Feliz.
• I still cannot believe Randolph wants to go back to Castillo in the two-hole. Church seems to fit perfectly there. Stick with him, dangit! Church goes down looking on a fastball over the outside corner.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 2 K. 2-0 Mets.

• First pitch of the inning for Santana, and Feliz hits one deep, but Beltran tracks it down on the warning track for the first out of the inning.
• Another pop up to left, and Ruiz is retired by Pagan. Gary just noted there has not been one ground ball out from Santana this game. That's nuts.
• There goes that, as Bruntlett grounds one to Wright at third. Wright makes the throw, on taget, to Delgado to end the inning. First inning without two strikeouts for Santana.
  
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 0 K. 2-0 Mets.

Sixth inning:

• Wright singled into left field over Bruntlett. Wright is now a home run away from the cycle. Double, triple, and a single.
• Beltran grounds one into the hole, but Bruntlett tracks it down, backhands, and makes a falling away throw to second to get the lead runner. Looked a bit close on that play at second, at least to me, but no one else made a peep about it. Hmm.
• Delgado bloops one down the first base line, which would have been a nice double, if it had not landed inches foul. He's in the hole 0-2. They're showing the Verizon High Speed of the game, and only have Hamels listed at 92 mph. I watched him hit 96 mph in the first inning. My guess: SNY is outsourcing their radar gun. Delgado bloops out to Utley.
• Pagan pulls a single through the hole, past Bruntlett. Nice swing there. Thanks for the replay. First and second, two away.
• Schneider makes his first out tonight, popping out to Burrell in left.
• 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 BB, 0 K. 2-0 Mets.

• Hamels and Santana matchup again. Santana's working him tight. Imagine is he gets plunked. Not good news. Don't do it Johan. Hamels goes down swinging. Nine for Santana.
• Taguchi grounds out, two away quick.
• Werth lines one into left and Pagan makes a diving, rolling grab to put it away. Excellent play. Shows his hustle and tenacity. Good stuff, Pagan.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, o BB, 1 K. 2-0 Mets.

Seventh inning:

• Castillo grounds another one softly to short, a low throw, but Howard digs it out.
• Santana pulls one down the first base line, which is snagged by Howard. Hamels wouldn't get their in time, so Howard needs to get to the bag himself and dives for the bag, just beating Santana. Johan broke out of that box with some speed. The replay had an added "woooosh!" sound effect via Ron. Thanks, that gave me a laugh.
• Reyes smokes one, right into the glove of Feliz manning the hot corner.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 0 K. 2-0 Mets.

• Utley takes a pitch from Santana deep to center field, over the fence and into the Phillies bullpen. This is a one run ballgame. 2-1 Mets. That is exactly why Santana needs to throw more junk.
• Howard grounds one along the line, which Delgado snags and takes to the base himself. One away.
• First pitch to Burrell is way in the dirt and skips past Schneider. After missing with his first two, works him inside to get the count to 2-2 and strikes him out on the next pitch, a change. Double digits for Santana.
• 2-2 pitch to Feliz, and he chops one over the head of Santana. Castillo comes charging in, snags it with his glove, grabs the handle, and makes the across the body throw to first to beat Feliz to the bag. Amazin'. Excellent play.
• 1 run, 1 hit, 0 BB, 1 K. 2-1 Mets.

Eighth inning:

• Church rips a ball into the right field corner. Church rounds first, but misses the bag, stumbles, falls, and has to hurry back to first.
• Wright doubles down the left field line, moving Church to third base. Wright is 4-4. A single, two doubles, and a triple. Some night after going 0-5 in 14 innings.
• After getting behind Beltran 2-0, the Phils will give him the intentional free pass and opt to pitch J.C. Romero against Delgado.
• Delgado has just one hit in 13 at bats against Romero, batting .077. Delgado rips the first pitch on the ground to Howard. Howard bobbles it a bit and his only play is to first while the run scores. 3-1 Mets.
• Pagan bloops one between Taguchi and Werth and both runners need to hold. The ball drops in and Wright walks on home. Beltran moves to third as Pagan hustles out a double. Good stuff. 4-1 Mets.
• Schneider puts one in the hole on the left side again, driving home Beltran. Pagan moves to third as Schneider drives in another with a single. 5-1 Mets.
• With Castillo batting, Pagan breaks for home, but Castillo doesn't square a bunt. Castillo fouls one away, saving a near disaster. Willie, a suicide squeeze? I don't think so. Castillo bounces one to third, Feliz makes the snag, attempts a tag to Pagan, which fails, and makes the long throw to Howard to get the second out. Schneider moves to second.
• Santana is still in the game, as he is getting a chance to bat in the eighth inning with two runners in scoring position. Santana goes down on strikes. His third strike out at the plate tonight.
• 3 runs, 4 hits, 1 BB, 1 K. 5-1 Mets.

• This is a strange sight. A Mets pitcher still in the game in the eighth inning. The Mets bullpen was taxed last night, so to have him eat up these innings here is amazing. Light-hitting Ruiz dunks one between Pagan and Reyes for a leadoff single. The Phillies third hit of the night.
• Bruntlett lines one right past Santana for the second straight hit. Santana made a valiant attempt on that ball, but couldn't make the stab. That will be all for Santana, I believe.
  
• J. Santana: 7+ IP, 4 hits, 1 ER, 0 BB, 10 K. Pretty freakin' good, if I say so myself.
• Aaron Heilman will enter the game for the Mets with two on and no one away.
  
• 95 mph fastball from Heilman for his first pitch to Greg Dobbs, pinch hitting. Second pitch from Heilman is taken DEEP to right for a three run home run. 5-4 Mets. Ugh! Heilman will never, ever be a closer for that reason.
• A huge cut from pinch hitter Geoff Jenkins on the second pitch. If he made contact, that ball was gone. Third pitch, Jenkins takes it to the warning track. He just missed tying this game.
• Werth squares to bunt, but Heilman makes Werth jump and dive out of the way with a ball way inside. Werth grounds one to Castillo for the second out. Heilman is done with Utley coming to bat.
• Pedro Feliciano will enter the game for the Mets. Feliciano pitched to one batter last night, walking him on four pitches.
• Feliciano gets Utley swinging on a fastball to end the inning. Good stuff from Pedro.
• 3 runs, 3 hits, 0 BB, 1 K. 5-4 Mets.

Ninth inning:

• Brad Lidge in the game for the Phillies.
• Lidge dials it up to 96 mph against Reyes. Ground ball to Utley, one away.
• Church smokes a single to left field. Great stuff from him. Willie, please don't move him.
• Wright's up with the chance for the cycle. Down 0-2 quick, but battles back to even. Now it's full. Slider outside, and the Mets have two on for Beltran. Five trips to the plate, five straight times on base for Wright.
• Beltran smokes one to Howard at first, and he gloves it and on the upswing with his arm, flings it across the infield. Bases loaded, one away for...
• Carlos Delgado. One career AB against Lidge, one career home run against Lidge. Delgado pops one to left, easily plating Church with a sac-fly. 6-4 Mets.
• Swing form Pagan at a ball in the dirt, but the ball skips at the plate and gets by Ruiz and scoots into the dugout. Both runners move up a base. Lazy fly ball to left and Burrell ends the inning.
• 1 run, 1 hit, 1 BB, 0 K. 6-4 Mets.

• Billy Wagner is in for the Mets and the save.
• Howard grounds one right back to Wagner, who makes the toss to Delgado for the first out. Howard didn't even make it halfway down the line.
• Full count to Burrell. Please don't bring the tying run to the plate. Popped up to shallow right and Castillo retreats to try and make the play. Church comes in and calls him off and makes the play.
• Feliz is up with the Phillies last chance. Quickly ahead 0-2 on Feliz and Wagner dials it up to 99 mph, but misses badly. Count is now even. Ground ball to Wright, who makes a perfect throw to Delgado to end the game.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 0 K. 6-4 Mets.
  

Mets 6 -- Phillies 4
WP: Johan Santana
LP: Cole Hamels

Thanks for tuning in. Be back in a bit with a recap.

Live Game Thread: Phillies @ Mets -- 4/10

Preparing for another live blog as the series wraps up in New York...

John Maine vs. Adam Eaton

Pre-game:

• No Jimmy Rollins tonight, again.

First inning:

• Shane Victorino takes a first pitch ball from John Maine to start the game. Maine's up around 90-92 mph, and gets Victorino to swings and foul off ball four before Victorino singles up the middle. There goes the no hitter.
• Here's Eric Bruntlett, coming off a very rough night. Maine is having a bit of trouble finding the plate early. Hit and run is on, and Bruntlett pops it up to Delgado on the infield. Victorino has no clue and can't get back in time, double play.
• Maine gets ahead on his first batter, going 0-2 to Chase Utley. Utley puts one in the air, and Angel Pagan tracks it down on the warning track.
• 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 BB, 0 K. 0-0 Tie.

• Jose Reyes is cold. Second pitch he lifts a lazy fly ball to left field for the first out.
• Pagan puts one in the air to left, and Pat Burrell is there to put it away.
• Yikes. Adam Eaton gets David Wright to chase a ball very low and very away. Wright just looks silly on that swing. Quick inning.
  
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 1 K. 0-0 Tie.

Second inning:

• Maine gets Ryan Howard to lift one to center field for the first out.
• On the next pitch, Burrell pops one up to Ryan Church. Five outs, four pop ups.
• Maine is either in the dirt or missing high tongiht it seems. Maybe that's just me. Geoff Jenkins rips one to left center. Beltran watches it likes it's a goner, and I thought it was gone too, but it hits about a foot down from the top of the wall and bounces to Beltran. Jenkins slides into second with a double.
• Can of corn for Beltran off the bat of Pedro Feliz to center field, and the inning is over.
• 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 BB, 0 K. 0-0 Tie.

• Beltran pops one up behind the bag at first, Howard's under it and there is one out. Beltran is 0-8 this series.
• With Carlos Delgado up, the Phillies move into the shift. Delgado just fouled one off his foot and didn't even flinch. If that was me, I'd be on the ground crying for my mommy. Guess that's why I'm on the couch writing about baseball as opposed to playing it. Full count to Delgado. After a few foul balls, Eaton throws a ball in the dirt and Delgado walks.
• Church rips a curve ball under the glove of Utley, Delgado moves to second base.
• Damion Easley grounds a ball to Bruntlett, who fields it cleanly, tosses it to second where Utley gets nailed by Church, but makes a nice throw to first to complete the double play and end the inning.
• 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 BB, 0 K. 0-0 Tie.

Third inning:

• They're commenting on the Tommy Agee home run, which is celebrating it's 39th anniversary today.
  
• I love Chris Coste, what a story. He works the count full before walking.
• Eaton sacrifices Coste to second base, one away.
• Maine looks worried, but comes out with a nasty breaking ball to Victorino, 1-2, before Victorino grounds one back to Maine. Maine could have easily turned and nailed Coste at third with about 70 feet to spare. Coste moves to third as Maine goes to first to get Victorino.
• Quickly two strikes to Bruntlett, and he flies out to Beltran in center to end the threat.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 BB, 0 K. 0-0 Tie.

• Leading off the inning, Brian Schneider quickly grounds out to Utley at second.
• Maine goes down swinging in a futile plate appearance. What happened to the Maine that could hit a home run? Oh, right, that was a miracle.
• I fully believe that if Victorino wasn't in center for the Phils, the Mets would be looking for the sweep tonight. He tracks down and nearly over runs a ball stung into center by Reyes. That was another quickie.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 1 K. 0-0 Tie.

Fourth inning:

• Utley pops out to left for the first out. This game is flying.
• Howard stings one into the shift, taking a short hop in front of Easley. He corrals it and makes the strangely angled toss to Delgado at first.
• Maine is having trouble finding the plate, as he walks Burrell. He's been helped out by some poor hitting decisions on the Phillies part, swinging on ill-advised pitches.
  
• Jenkins grounds out right to Delgado, who needs to move one step to the left to make the out at first.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 BB, 0 K. 0-0 Tie.
  

• Pagan rips one to over the head of Bruntlett, who jumps for it, but the ball tips off the top of his glove and into the outfield.
• Wright looks terrible on the first pitch again, swinging at a slider in the dirt. Ugly. Second pitch: equally ugly. He can't hit that slider for the life of him. Rally towels are up and spinning as the slider falls in for a called strike three. Wright can't pick up the ball lately.
• A common theme the last two nights: walks from the Phillies. Beltran walks to put two on with one out.
• Delgado has a beautiful batters count, 3-1, and promptly grounds out to second, advancing both runners.
• Church comes through, waiting on a pitch and punching a two RBI single to left center. Pagan and Beltran score easily. Good stuff.
• Bruntlett brought his glove tonight, backhanding a ball from Easley and making a falling away throw to second to get Church an end the inning.
• 2 runs, 2 hits, 1 BB, 1 K. 2-0 Mets.

Fifth inning:

• 53 pitches for Maine starting the fifth inning. Much better pitch count than his first time around. Maine K's Feliz on three pitches for his first strike out of the game.
• Maine seems to be finding his stride here. Coste hits one to straight away an Beltran breaks back before having to come charging in and makes the catch at his thigh.
• Easton ground out to Reyes. Maine only needed 6 pitches that inning.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 1 K. 2-0 Mets.

• Schneider grounds out to Utley for the first out of the fifth inning.
• Maine goes down on three pitches for the second time tonight.
• Reyes up with two outs, a place where Reyes finds himself very often and I feel he is absolutely wasted in these spots. He rarely has the ability to create runs in this spot. Reyes does something he should never, ever do, popping up for the third time tonight.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 1 K. 2-0 Mets.

Sixth inning:

• Maine is busting Victorino in tight. He's getting strikes in there though. Another walk though, as Victorino takes the free pass to first. Third walk of the game for Maine.
• Bruntlett pops out to Church, who staggers under it and makes the catch.
• With Utley batting, Victorino takes off for second. Schneider shows Mets fans why the team picked him up this offseason, as he puts the throw on the money and gets Victorino at second.
• Utley grounds one off the bag and Easley comes over and tries to flip it to first but it was too late. Easley and Utley collide behind the bag, but both players are just fine.
• Maine is missing low and in to lefties tonight. Very strange that he keeps missing to the same exact spot. Maybe he's not missing, if it's going to the same spot. Who knows. Howard works the count full. On the eighth pitch of the at bat, Maine walks Howard. Two on, two out for...
• Burrell. Maine misses with the first two pitches. Ball three. Ball four. Four pitches. Bases are loaded. He's up to 83 pitches.
• Another ball to Jenkins. Next pitch, Jenkins grounds to Delgado who has to move to his right to field the ball. He makes the throw to second, as his momentum was carrying him in that direction to end the thread.
• 0 runs, 1 hit, 3 walks, o K. 2-0 Mets.

• Pagan leading off the inning again. How good is this kid? Pagan dumps one into left and coasts into second with a stand-up double. Moises who?
• Here comes Wright. Let's see if he can make contact. And he does. Wright grounds out to Bruntlett, which allows Pagan to move to third with one away.
• Beltran rips a single into right field, allowing Pagan to trot on home for the third run of the game. Your standard Beltran swing right there. So sweet. 3-0 Mets.
• With Delgado batting, do you send Beltran? Why not test Coste? Long AB for Delgado here. Making Eaton work. Full count. Delgado swings through a high slider, and Delgado just misses under it. Two away.
• With Church batting, Beltran attempts a steal. Very close play at second, but Coste made a perfect throw and got the call.
• 1 run, 2 hits, 0 BB, 1 K. 3-0 Mets.

Seventh inning:

• Maine is still out there.
• He promptly gives up a solo home run to Feliz to deep left field. Hanging slider from Maine, he was just asking to get taken deep. 3-1 Mets.
• Coste rips one to left field. Pagan does not know how to handle the outfield at Shea just yet and the ball goes over his head and off the wall. Coste practically walks into second with an easy double. That's the end of the day for Maine.
• Pedro Feliciano is in the game for the Mets.
• Maine's final line: 6+ IP, 1 ER, 5 hits, 1 K.
• Feliciano is quickly behind Jayson Werth 3-0. Now 3-1. Ball four. First and second, nobody out.
• Victorino up, and the Mets are looking for the bunt. 1-2 on Victorino as he bunts it and hits it while still in the box. Swing away here? Yup, and he swings through a breaking ball for the first out.
• 0-2 and Feliciano gets one in on the outside corner, striking out Bruntlett. Beautiful pitch. Two away.
• Uh-oh, Utley's up. 2-2 to Utley. Both strikes have come on sliders that start behind Utley and break over the plate. Dirty. Got 'em swinging to end the threat.
• 1 run, 2 hits, 1 BB, 3 K. 3-1 Mets.

• Ryan Madson is now pitching for the Phillies.
• Church lifts one very high to center field, and Werth is under it for the first out. One pitch, one out.
• Easley takes Madson the other way for a double. Bounces off the Amtrak down in the corner. Easley's first hit of the night.
  
• Schneider goes low and golfs the changeup to second base. Utley puts him away for the second out.
• Marlon Anderson is pinch hitting for Feliciano. Aaron Heilman is up in the bullpen for the Mets. Madson and Coste are having a bit of trouble communicating. 2-2 count to Anderson. Long AB here. Finally a pitch not fouled off. 3-2. With the 10th pitch, Anderson grounds out to Utley at second.
• 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 BB, 0 K. 3-1 Mets.

Eighth inning:

• Heilman is in the game. Don't have a repeat performance of the first two outings.
• Howard takes Heilman very deep to dead center field for a solo home run. 420 feet? That ball was crushed. 3-2 Mets.
• Burrell walks. Warm up Billy Wagner now. So Taguchi is running for Burrell.
  
• 2-2 count to Werth. He pulls it under the glove of Delgado. Taguchi goes first to third. Two on, no outs.
• Feliz grounds one to Wright, who barely makes the play and the throw, as they only get one at first. Tying runs scores and Werth moves to second. 3-3 Tie.
• Coste works the count full after behind behind in the count. Heilman gets Coste to swing through a pitch, two away.
• Werth fists one to first and Delgado takes it to the bag himself, inning over.
• 2 runs, 2 hits, 1 BB, 1 K. 3-3 Tie.

• JC Romero is pitching for the Phillies. He owned the Mets last season.
• Reyes quickly down 0-2 as he pulls it to short. Bruntlett fields it on the backhand but has no chance to get the speedy Reyes. Let's manufacture a run here, boys.
• Pagan drops down a beautiful bunt, moving Reyes to second as they throw out Pagan at first.
• IBB to Wright. He's been ice cold, crazy. Beltran is 4-21 against Romero, sense is now made.
• 2-1 to Beltran, as he lines one foul down the left field line. Coste and Romero have a meeting at the mound. A double steal as Beltran swings through the ball. Reyes moves to third and Wright moves to second. 2-2 count. Beltran swings through the slider low, two outs. Big out for Romero there.
• Delgado chops one to third, where Feliz fields it and makes the throw to first to end the inning.
• 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 BB, 1 K. 3-3 Tie.

Ninth inning:

• Wagner is pitching for the Mets, facing Rollins who is pinch hitting for the Phillies. Wagner hasn't pitched in eight days.
• Rollins hasn't taken his bat off his shoulder, and it's 1-2. Next pitch: swinging strike. One away.
• Bruntlett pops up to Church in right. Two away.
• 2-2 to Utley. Two strikes on the paint. Full count. Two pitches fouled off. Obviously still 3-2. Wagner misses low, Utley walks.
• Swing and miss by Howard on the first pitch. 1-2 count. Swing and a miss on the slider, and Howard goes down.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 BB, 2 K. 3-3 Tie.

• Church takes a slider over the plate for a called first pitch strike and breaks his bat on the next pitch. Quickly 0-2. Church swings over the slider, one away.
• Easley grounds one along the third base line, Feliz picks it up and makes the toss to first. Two outs.
• Full count for Schneider. Works out a walk.
• Endy Chavez is pinch hitting for Wagner. Chavez stings one right to Bruntlett at short. We're getting some free baseball.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 BB, 1 K. 3-3 Tie.

Tenth inning:

• Joe Smith is in for the Mets.
• Smith induces a chopping ground ball to second and Easley makes a beautiful play, just beating Taguchi with the throw at first.
• Jenkins works a walk, the ninth of the game from Mets pitchers. Sounds like last night for the Phillies.
• Feliz pops out to Beltran in center field for the second out of the inning.
• Coste lines one to Delgado at first who snags it for the final out.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 BB, 0 K. 3-3 Tie.

• Rudy Seanez is in the game for the Phillies.
• Seanez falls behind Reyes 2-0. A walk would be huge here. And now it's 2-2. Took the first strike all the way. Reyes gets called out on a very close pitch. That did not catch the plate at all and Reyes is wrung up. Not cool.
• Pagan pops one into shallow left and Bruntlett goes out to get it. Two out.
• Wright works the count full, 3-2. Wright walks for the second time tonight.
• Beltran swings over the slider for the first strike. That happens a lot with him. Slider low and in on Beltran is unhittable for Carlos. Wright swipes second base, putting him in scoring position. Beltran works the count full here, where a base hit will win it. Beltran slams his bat into the ground after swinging and missing on a slider low and away, ending the inning.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 BB, 1 K. 3-3 Tie.

Eleventh inning:

• Smith is still in for the Mets. Werth grounds one into the hole, Wright makes a diving stab, but the throw is too late and Werth picks up a infield single to leadoff the inning.
• Cole Hamels is sent up to bunt, and lays down a beauty. Wright and Schneider have a bit of trouble communicating and Schneider fields it but slips while attempting the throw. First and second, none away.
• Bruntlett fouls off the first two pitches, and is in the hole 0-2. Stick with the bunt? Yup. He fouls it off, strike three. One away. End of the night for Smith, Scott Schoeneweis is coming in the game for New York.
• Schoeneweis facing Utley here with two on, this should be fun. Schoeneweis is quickly behind 2-0. Two fouled off pitches, and the count is even. Utley grounds one to Easley, who turns to second, tosses it to Reyes to eliminate Hamels who guns it onto Delgado at first to get Utley and end the inning.
• 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 BB, 1 K. 3-3 Tie.

• Tom Gordon is now pitching for Philadelphia.
• Delgado chases a slider low and away, strike three. That was ugly.
• Church chases a fastball way out of the zone high, 94 mph, strike three. Again, that was ugly.
• First pitch to Easley, popped out to Werth in center. Bad inning from the Metties at the plate.

Twelfth inning:

• Jorge Sosa is coming into the game for New York. I don't get why Schoeneweis wasn't left in at least to face Howard. That one baffles me. Oh. Nevermind that. Schoeneweis is staying in. Woops.
  
• Gary is now asking Keith for Tootsie Pops. You know it's getting late when...
• Howard pulls one along the first base line, right to Delgado, who takes it to the bag himself for the first out.
• Schoeneweis is still in the game. Now I'm really confused. He's facing a righty in Taguchi, for what reason? He induces a chopper to Reyes, who has to make the quick throw, and does, to get Taguchi at first.
• Full count to Jenkins here. He's been on base three times tonight. Jenkins grounds it to the second base side of Easley, who has to make a backhanded stab, but can't come up with the ball. Jenkins is on with what I would score as an error.
• Double switch: Sosa in for Church, Brady Clark in the pitchers spot.
• First pitch from Sosa and Feliz grounds it right to Wright. Goes the short way to second to end the inning.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 0 K. 3-3 Tie.

• Schneider pops the first pitch from Gordon, in his second inning, to Utley. One away in a hurry.
• Clark taking his first AB of the game. Clark stings one to third, Feliz fields it nicely and makes the long toss across the diamond to get Clark.
• Keith is bored. He's stretching in the booth.
• Reyes rips one into the gap, and easily pulls into second with a stand-up double. Man in scoring position with two away.
• Pagan comes through in a big way, singling up the middle and Werth comes up throwing in center. Reyes makes the slide and gets his hand to the plate before Coste applies the tag on his back. 4-3 Mets.

Final: Mets 4 -- Phillies 3.
WP: Jorge Sosa
LP: Tom Gordon

Live Game Thread: Phillies @ Mets | Final Opening Day at Shea

Check out the game preview as we wait for the game to begin...

I'm official excited, and I love that they're taking on the Phillies today. Man, I hate that team.

Pre-game:

• I dig Daryl Strawberry as a new analyst on SNY. I think he'll be pretty good and won't pull any punches.
  
• Jon Heyman looks nothing like his picture that pops up on YES when he's on M&MD. Strange voice to boot.
• Gary/Keith/Ron are all wearing suits. This is a big step up from their ugly polo shirts they wore in Florida. Very dapper.
• There are three generations of Shea's out on the field right now. They're running a great video on Mets baseball and William Shea, voiced by Gary Cohen. Beautiful. Shea Stadium cost $28.5 million to build. That's an average contract for a player in the baseball world now.
• Howie Rose is on the field. I'm getting choked up. Resounding boo's for the Phillies trainers. That sounds about right. Jimmy Rollins wins for loudest jeers, just beating out Pat Burrell. He should be honored.
• Here come the Mets. SNY is screwing up the names and shots. It has to be tough. Here come the coaches, as Howard Johnson is getting a resounding cheer from the crowd. Endy Chavez gets a very loud cheer for a bench player. He's going down in Mets history forever. Matt Wise, who is on the DL, gets boo'd and Aaron Heilman has a mixed reaction. And the crowd literally goes wild for Johan Santana, and rightly so.
• Willie Randolph comes out to cheers. I'm surprised. David Wright comes out to the loudest cheers, as expected.
• The Mets are debuting the name "SHEA" to the wall of retired numbers. Great gesture.
• Here comes the National Anthem. Being sung by Michael Amante. Pretty good, I must say.
• Is a plane flyover really all that special for Mets fans? We get one every 20 minutes at Shea every game!!

First inning:

• Oliver Perez to J-Roll, first pitch of the year: strike, right down the heart of the plate. Rollins taps one three feet in front of the plate, Brian Schneider pounces, and tosses him out at first.
• There goes the no-hitter. Shane Victorino singles to center field.
• The construction crew is hanging out at Citi Field, watching the game. Chase Utley apparently gets tipped on the jersey, and takes his base. Utley was practically on top of the plate and barely got nicked.
• Ryan Howard pops up to Carlos Beltran in center. Perez handled him perfectly.
• Perez is dealing today. Climbing the ladder against Burrell. Called strike three. Inning over. That's how you get out of a first inning jam and get the crowd rocking at the same time.
• 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 BB, 1 K. 0-0 Tie.
  

• Jose Reyes does it again, swinging at the first two pitches of the game and quickly grounding out to short.
• Luis Castillo works out a walk.
• Wright crushes one to the warning track in left-center, but Victorino tracks it down.
• With Beltran at the plate, Moyer keeps checking on Castillo at first. Carlos Ruiz and Moyer have a conference on the mound. Beltran works the count to 3-1. Beltran rolls one along the line to third base. Inning over.
• 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 BB, 0 K. 0-0 Tie.
  

Second inning:

• Perez seems to be working with more of a sidearm approach today, but that might just be me. Jayson Werth singles through the hole on the right side to lead off the inning.
• Pedro Feliz pops one into foul territory, but no one can track it down. Mayor Bloomberg, sporting a nice orange pullover is taking in the game with new Gov. David Patterson by his side. Feliz grounds one right to Carlos Delgado, which freezes Werth. Delgado turns the unassisted double play. Good stuff.
• Carlos Ruiz pops out to Beltran in center.
  
• 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 BB, 0 K. 0-0 Tie
  

• Delgado starts off his season at Shea with a ball crushed to deep right field. Bounces off the HIP sign at the base of the scoreboard. 1-0 Mets. That ball got out in a hurry, and he knew it was gone as soon as he hit it.
• Angel Pagan puts a charge into one, out to the warning track, but again, Victorino tracks it down. He's fast, very fast.
• Ryan Church tries to lay down a bunt down the third base line, which trickles just foul. Nice approach from Church, I like it. Church barely gets nicked on the forearm, and takes first. So now the teams are even.
  
• Brian Schneider grounds one to Utley. Church gets tagged and the throw to first completes the double play.
• 1 run, 1 hit, 0 BB, 0 K. 1-0 Mets.

Third inning:

• I have to hand it to Moyer. I love his socks. Moyer grounds one back to Perez, who makes a diving stab to grab the ball, and makes the toss to first for the first out.
• 3-0 quickly to Rollins. And Perez works in a strike before getting Rollins to ground out to Wright. Two away.
• Victorino pops out to Church in right. 1-2-3 inning for Perez.
• 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 BB, 0 K. 1-0 Mets.

• Perez is probably one of my favorite Mets to watch bat. I love the jumping off the ground when he swings. He grounds out to Utley for the first out.
• Reyes, who seems to be letting go of the bag a little too early, ground out to third for the second out. Reyes seems to be bailing out and taking too large of a swing. He needs to get more compact and shorten up.
• Castillo grounds out to Howard at first, ending the inning.
• 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 BB, 0 K. 1-0 Mets.

Fourth inning:

• Perez wants nothing to do with Utley today, as he nicks him on the upper arm for the second time today. Two hit batters, both named Utley.
• Howard works the count full, putting Utley in motion. Peres is working his slider today, getting Howard to chase low and away. He had no chance to hit that ball and thats exactly the way you need to pitch him.
• Burrell hits one almost right to Church in right, two away.
• Perez gets Werth ground out to Reyes, who goes the short way, barely getting Utley at second base.
• 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 BB, 0 K. 1-0 Mets.

• Wright is quickly 0-2 against Moyer. Works it to 3-2, which doesn't surprise me. He's such a good hitter. He needs to start calling time more, I think. Wright puts one deep into the right centerfield gap, and Victorino tracks it down again. Werth and Victorino collide on the warning track, both are slightly shaken up and stay on the ground for half a minute, but both seem alright and will stay in the game.
• Now Moyer is quickly behind Beltran 3-0 before laying one across the middle for a strike. Moyer misses outside, and Beltran draws the one out walk.
• Kevin Burkhardt is interviewing Gov. Patterson, who grew up a Mets fan, and it still a fan, shares my sentiment about missing Shea, but is very excited to get to Citi Field. "The biggest surprise of my job so far, is that I am governor!" said Patterson.
  
• Everyone get off Delgado's back now. He literally shoots one into the opposite field, getting his bat out down low, singling to left. First and second, one away.
• Did Pagan just walk up the Indiana Jones theme? I love him even more now. Pagan puts one in the hole, which Utley tracks down. Pagan beats out the throw to first. Utley stuttered a bit, and with Pagan's speed, he beat it out.
  
• Bases loaded, one away for Church. This could solidify him for Mets fans with a hit here. Church dribbles one to second, Utley to Howard, plating Beltran. Two away, runners on second and third. 2-0 Mets.
• They're going to issue an IBB to Schneider to bring Perez up with the bases loaded.
• After waving at the slider on the first pitch, Perez attempts a drag bunt with Delgado on third. He literally left the bat hanging over the plate, and hoped it made contact. Pitch in the dirt and Perez swings, ending the inning.
• 1 run, 2 hits, 1 BB, 1 K. 2-0 Mets.

Fifth inning:

• Luis Castillo has been removed from the game, and Damion Easley has taken his place on the field. I'll let you know what's up with Castillo when it breaks. UPDATE: "Right knee soreness."
  
• Feliz grounds one to short, which Reyes has to backhand. Reyes has trouble finding the handle, makes the high throw, and Delgado goes up to get it. Again, I think Delgado is severely underrated at first.
• Ruiz singles to right.
• Mayor Bloomberg: "Take mass transit."
• Moyer is up there trying to bunt Ruiz over, but Perez wants none of that and walks him instead. First and second, one away. That's just terrible on Perez's part. He's trying to sacrifice and you walk him? Not good.
• Perez goes 2-0 on Rollins, forcing Schneider to come out and calm him down. Perez gets two foul balls to work the count 2-2. Grounded to Wright, who tosses to second to get Moyer, but the ball wasn't hit quick enough to get the speedy Rollins. First and third, two away.
• Castillo is out with "right knee soreness."
• Quickly 0-2 on Victorino, and the crowd gets to it's feet. Victorino pops up to very shallow right, and Reyes goes out and puts it away.
• 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 BB, 0 K. 2-0 Mets.

• Moyer is working everyone inside today. It seems to be working. That looping curveball must be impossible to hit. Reyes is up with the count 1-2. He shoots one to first, which Howard stabs out of the air.
• Easley is getting his first AB of the game. Takes a called first strike. He grounds out to his counterpart on the next pitch for the second out of the inning.
• Wright finally finds a place where Victorino can't catch it, doubling to right field.
• Victorino has saved this game too many times. Beltran smacks one to deep center, and Victorino tracks it down...again!
• 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 BB, 0 K.

Sixth inning:

• Perez almost hits Utley, yes, again! Utley pops out to short centerfield, and for some reason Reyes makes the out.
• Perez is working the slider today, getting Howard to pop out to, you guessed it, short centerfield. Reyes goes out, but Beltran puts this one away.
• Burrell is fouling off pitches left and right, with the count 2-2. Burrell works out a walk. One on, two away.
• Since I wrote that Perez is working the slider, he seems to be losing his control. He's up to 92 pitches. Rick Peterson comes out to the mound to have a little chat with Perez as Joe Smith starts to work in the bullpen. Quickly 3-0. Not good. Perez turns and throws to an unoccupied bag, which is a balk. Burrell moves to second. Perez throws ball four low and in, and it gets away from Schneider, a passed ball. Burrell moves to third as Werth takes first. That's the end of the day for Perez. I jinxed him.
• Smith will come into the game with two inherited runners on. Let's see how he handles that. He's been much better this year in that situation though.
• Perez's final line: 5.2 IP, 3 hits, 3 BB, 2 K.
• Scott Schoeneweis is up in the bullpen as Smith is quickly 2-0 on Feliz. Now 3-1. And he walks him. Bases loaded.
• Ruiz grounds one to Reyes, who flips to Easley to end the threat.
• 0 hits, 0 runs, 3 BB, 0 K. 2-0 Mets.

• Moyer is working the curveball to Delgado, quickly getting ahead of him 0-2. Delgado knocks one right into the shift in short right. One away.
• Craig Carton may have just jinxed the Mets, as he claimed they "locked up a win here on Opening Day." Thanks, Craiggy.
• Pagan knocks one to center, Victorino doesn't have to chase it down, but puts it away for the second out of the inning.
• The Phils put the shift on for Church, which I haven't seen before, and he grounds out to the third baseman, who was playing short, to end the inning.
• 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 BB, 0 K. 2-0 Mets.

Seventh inning:

• Smith went out the mound to start the inning, but Moyer was removed for the game in favor of a pinch hitter. Willie Randolph comes out and pulls Smith in favor of Schoeneweis, who will take on So Taguchi.
• I did not know Taguchi was 38-years-old. News to me. The count is full to Taguchi. Big first out, as Schoeneweis gets Taguchi to ground out to Easley.
• Rollins picks up his first hit of the game, singling to Pagan in left.
• Schoeneweis gets ahead on Victorino with a 1-2 count. Now it's full. Victorino grounds one off the mound and up the middle. First and second, both players very quick, with one away. The big guns are coming up.
• Utley gets pegged for the third time today, getting plunked in the arm. Didn't really look like he wanted to get out of the way of that ball, which is understandable. Bases loaded, with Howard coming to the plate.
• Howard grounds one to Delgado, and his throw to second base plunks Utley right in the back. The ball gets away which allows Victorino to score behind Rollins, tying the game. 2-2 Tie.
• Double switch for the Mets, as Schoeneweis will leave the game in favor of Jorge Sosa. Sosa will bat sixth, as Endy Chavez is now playing left in place of Pagan. Chavez will hit ninth.
• Burrell pops out deep to Church in right. Utley tags up and moves to third. Two away.
• Sosa is ahead of Werth, 1-2, and the crowd comes to their feet in support. Werth goes the other way, poking it through the hole between Easley and Delgado, scoring Utley. 3-2 Phillies.
• Feliz pops up to Reyes in shallow left, ending the inning.
• 3 hits, 3 runs, 0 BB, 0 K. 3-2 Phillies.

• Chad Durbin is in the game in place of Moyer.
• Schneider starts off the inning with a single up the middle on the first pitch he sees.
• Chavez, batting in the 9-hole, attempts a bunt on the first pitch. Chavez grounds one to Durbin, who tips it right to Rollins who turns the double play.
• Reyes, batting lefty, grounds one under the diving glove of Utley.
• Durbin keeps checking Reyes at first. Still no pitch to Easley. On his first pitch, Easley puts a charge into one, but Taguchi tracks it down on the warning track.
• 2 hits, 0 runs, 0 BB, 0 K. 3-2 Phillies.

Eighth inning:

• Aaron Heilman in the game for the Mets.
• Ruiz works the count full, and Heilman walks the leadoff batter.
• Taguchi sacrafices, moving Ruiz to second base for Rollins.
• Rollins pulls one under the glove of Delgado at first and Ruiz comes around to score easily. 4-2 Phillies.
• Schneider can't handle a Heilman slider, and that would be his second passed ball of the day. Not a good day behind the plate for Schneider. Heilman is now behind 3-1 on Victorino. Heilman walks him on the next pitch. First and second, again, both speedy, with only one away.
• Heilman is all over the place today. Missing low, missing away. Everything but his fastball is missing the zone. Heilman is very focused on Rollins at second. He's checked him four times this at bat. Utley doubles over the head of Church, driving in Rollins. 5-2 Phillies. Second and third, one away.
• Howard will get the IBB, brining up Geoff Jenkins in place of the pitcher.
• Gary Cohen is wondering where Pedro Feliciano is. I'm right there with him. Feliciano is like a ghost this season.
• Jenkins is up with the bases loaded. Jenkins pops one up, and the infield fly rule is called. Two away.
• Werth now up with the bases still chucked. Heilman is quickly behind 2-0. Heilman puts a 92 mph fastball by Werth, up at the letters for the first strike. Werth lefts one to right, and Church is under it to end the inning.
• 2 hits, 2 runs, 2 BB, 0 K. 5-2 Phillies.

• It's the middle of the 8th inning, and I can hear Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" in the background at the stadium. That brightens my day a bit.
  
• Rollins is out of the game, Eric Bruntlett is in the game at short. Good.
• Wright gets called out on a check swing, which was very close. I'm not sure about that. One away on a swinging strikeout.
• Beltran works the count to 3-1, and promptly doubles down the third base line. A stand-up double for Beltran, his seventh of the season.
• 3-2 to Delgado. Grounded to the right side and Beltran moves to third.
• Brady Clark is up in the pitchers spot. Clark is fighting off pitches, with the count 2-2. Full count now, as Clark fouls one off his foot. The AB continues. On the eighth pitch, Clark works out a walk. First and third, two away.
• Church is up with a chance to tie the game. Quickly 0-2 on a high fastball that Church does not agree with. Looked a little outside from my seat on the couch. Church dribbles another one to second, and Utley beats him with the throw by a step. Inning over.
• 1 hit, 0 runs, 1 walk, 1 K. 5-2 Phillies.

Ninth inning:

• Carlos Muniz is in the game for the Mets. Muniz is on the team, taking the place of Wise who was placed on the DL, retroactive to April 5.
• Rollins left the game with a sprained left ankle. Cheers erupt from Mets fans everywhere.
• Muniz gets a ground ball from Feliz, and Wright makes the toss to first for the first out of the inning.
• Ruiz puts one in the air right to Chavez in left field, two away quick.
• Taguchi hits one to right, and Church puts it away for the final out.
• 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 BB, 0 K. 5-2 Phillies.

• Tom Gordon will come into the game for the Phillies to try and put the game away and earn the save.
• Gordon takes down Schneider on three pitches. The shadows between the pitcher and the batter are favoring the Phillies right now.
• Chavez is taking his second AB of the game. On a 2-2 pitch, Chavez grounds one right to Gordon, who flips to Howard for the second out.
• Reyes, again batting left handed, knocks the ball to the warning track, very symbolic of todays game, and Werth puts it away for the final out of the game.
• 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 BB, 0 K. 5-2 Phillies.

Final: 5-2 Phillies.
WP: Jamie Moyer
LP: Scott Schoeneweis

Thanks for sticking around. Hope you enjoyed the Live Blog.