MILWAUKEE-- For a while, it seemed as if the Mets were about to throw their fourth consecutive shutout. It took until two outs in the ninth for the streak to be snapped after 35 2/3 innings.
It was a classic pitcher's duel between two aces. For the Mets, Johan Santana was on the mound. He was lights-out, as he became the first pitcher for the Mets this season to go eight innings.
The Brewers did have a chance to get to him in the second inning, when NL RBI leader Casey McGehee led off with a double. Santana didn't allow him to score and that extended the Mets' scoreless innings streak to 29.
In the third, the Mets had their biggest opportunity of the game against Yovani Gallardo, who lost two 1-0 shutouts to the Mets last season, one of them against Johan Santana.
Rod Barajas and Jeff Francoeur both singled to start the inning, and Johan Santana, bunting, reached base when the third baseman McGehee looked to third and threw to first too late.
With the bases loaded and nobody out, Jose Reyes grounded to first, where Prince Fielder threw Barajas out at the plate. The next batter Alex Cora ended the inning with a 4-6-3 double play. The Mets didn't score, but the Brewers weren't doing anything offensively either against Santana.
The Brewers wouldn't get another legitimate scoring chance until the final inning. The Mets though, did have chances throughout.
In the sixth, Reyes doubled but never scored. In the eighth, Barajas led off with a single but it was followed by a Jeff Francoeur double play. The next batter, Johan Santana, doubled to deep center field, but Jose Reyes was one of three Mets to strike out looking in the eighth and ninth innings, as he ended the eighth.
In the ninth, Jason Bay singled, two batters later David Wright walked, but that was followed by an Angel Pagan strikeout looking to his chagrin. Pagan barked at the home plate umpire, even slammed his bat to the ground, but was not tossed.
While Yovani Gallardo pitched the full nine innings, Johan Santana wasn't too bad himself, going eight scoreless.
In the bottom of the ninth, still a scoreless game, Pedro Feliciano came in for Santana and retired Prince Fielder on the first pitch. Jerry Manuel brought in Ryota Igarashi. Ryan Braun hit a ground ball to shortstop, where Jose Reyes dove to stop the ball, but couldn't throw out the runner. After Casey McGehee popped out to first, Corey Hart hit a walk-off two-run home run to left field, giving the Brewers the 2-0 win, and ended the Mets' scoreless innings streak at 35 2/3.
More importantly, the Mets' five-game winning streak ended and they failed to win another road game, falling to 6-15 on the road on the season.
Yovani Gallardo was credited with the complete-game shut out, Johan Santana got another no decision, and Ryota Igarashi was charged with the loss.
With the Phillies finally winning—and scoring—the Mets drop a game in the NL East standings, falling to three games out of first place.
They will try and get back on track tomorrow night with spot starter Fernando Nieve on the mound, opposing Manny Parra.
Series probable pitchers:
May 29
New York: Fernando Nieve (2010: 1-2, 5.09 ERA) vs. Milwaukee: Manny Parra (2010: 1-3, 3.54 ERA)
May 30
New York: R.A. Dickey (2010: 1-0, 1.50 ERA) vs. Milwaukee: Randy Wolf (2010: 4-4, 4.52 ERA)
Upcoming schedule:
New York Mets:
May 29-30 @ Milwaukee Brewers
May 31-June 2 @ San Diego Padres
Milwaukee Brewers:
May 29-30 vs. New York Mets
May 31-June 2 @ Florida Marlins
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com
- Login to post comments