Game One- 1:10pm
NEW YORK-- Winning series at home for the Mets is becoming an automatic. The Mets have won seven of their last eight series' at Citi Field and will go for their 10th consecutive home victory today with their ace Johan Santana on the mound.
This has been the issue in all of Santana's seasons with the Mets so far; he doesn't get any run support. On the previous road trip, Santana threw 15 scoreless innings over two starts in Milwaukee and San Diego and guess what? The Mets lost both games. That just can't happen. A team shouldn't lose one start all season that their ace doesn't allow a run, let alone two consecutively. Yes, the Mets have had an issue in all road games this season, but you just have to find a way to scratch out at least one run in two starts with your ace on the hill.
Maybe things will change being the Mets are at home. Yet again, maybe they won't. Opposing Santana will be Mat Latos, another solid Padres starter. The Mets didn't face Latos in San Diego last week, but he's pretty good. Not only is he a respectable 5-4, 3.26 ERA this season, last season he was pretty good against the Mets in a start on August 8 at PETCO Park. In that game, he went six innings, allowing one run on four hits, and he struck out seven.
The entire Padres pitching staff, from starters to middle relievers to the closer--former Met Heath Bell--are dominant. The Mets had trouble for the second straight time against Clayton Richard on Tuesday, not getting anything until Jose Reyes' seventh inning game-tying home run, so Santana may be in for another scoreless tie in the eighth or ninth innings.
If so, the Mets will have to try and beat the Padres bullpen for a second straight game. That's not easy considering the Padres have baseball best bullpen, led by Heath Bell and Luke Gregerson. Neither or those two guys were involved in Tuesday's loss, as Bell didn't pitch and Gregerson struck out the side. Ike Davis' blast came off of Edward Mujica, the second he's hit off of him this season.
Jose Reyes kind of got his act together Tuesday night recording two hits, including a home run, David Wright had two hits, and Jeff Francoeur extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
One guy who is mired in an unexplainable power drought is one Jason Bay. It's getting to the point now with Bay, where he still only has three home runs, that he may be a bust. Although it's only the third month of year one for Bay, isn't about time he hits five in about a 20 at-bat span? It just isn't working out right now, and it's kind of hurting the Mets on offense.
On Tuesday, Bay came up in the 10th with a chance to win it with Angel Pagan at third and he grounded out, part of an 0-for-5, three strikeout performance.
A good sign for the Mets Tuesday, lost in their victory, was Francisco Rodriguez getting through an inning unscathed. Rodriguez came in in the 10th and struck out to, en route to a three up-three down inning.
Most things are looking up for the Mets right now. They're at home--where they're 23-9 on the season--with their ace on the mound.
The thing is, can they score for their ace today? Can Jason Bay break out of his funk? Ultimately, can the Mets continue their unbelieveable run at home? It's becoming an event to watch every time they're at Citi Field.
Johan Santana vs. San Diego (June 2)
ND, 7 IP, 0 ER, 5 hits, 5 BB, 3 SO
Mat Latos vs. New York (career- 8/8/09)
Win, 6 IP, 1 ER, 4 hits, 3 BB, 7 SO
Game Two- 7:10pm
NEW YORK-- Depending on what happens in the first game of the day-night doubleheader, the Mets will either be going for the series sweep, or it'll be the rubber game for game two.
One thing that is set is the pitching match-up for the nightcap. It will be Jon Niese going for the Mets, making his second start returning from a hamstring injury, facing Padres' Jon Garland.
Niese was terrific in his return from the Disabled List on Saturday against the Marlins, going seven innings, allowing one run on six hits, he walked one and struck out six.
The last doubleheader the Mets had was on April 27 against the Dodgers. That day, the Mets not only swept the doubleheader, but also had two left-handers going (Johan Santana and Oliver Perez.) On Thursday, the Mets will send two left-handers, Santana and Jon Niese.
For the Padres, Jon Garland was by far the best offseason acquisition for any team when it came to mid-level starting pitchers. Garland has been great this season, leading the young and effective Padres starting rotation.
He's 6-3 with a 2.68 ERA and his worst start of the season was on Saturday night at the Phillies. In that game, he gave up six runs on 10 hits in seven innings.
He gave up a home run to Jayson Werth in that game at the bandbox that is Citizens Bank Park and called the park "a joke." There won't be any "joke" home runs allowed in this game, at a park that's a total 180 turnaround at Citi Field.
The key to this game will probably be how badly used was the bullpen in the first game, specifically Francisco Rodriguez.
It'll be a huge game no matter what, but even more if the Mets are in position to sweep the series, win their sixth in a row, and 11th straight at Citi Field.
The Mets are hot at home, can they sweep their second doubleheader of the season? Sit tight for a long day and night of baseball wherever you are.
Jon Niese this season (9 starts)
2-2, 4.28 ERA, 48.1 IP, 62 hits, 19 BB, 39 SO
Jon Garland vs. New York (career)
1-0, 2.57 ERA, 21 IP, 19 hits, 6 BB, 12 SO
2010 season series (New York vs. San Diego)
May 31: San Diego 18, New York 6
June 1: New York 4, San Diego 2
June 2: San Diego 5, New York 1 (11)
June 8: New York 2, San Diego 1 (11)
Series tied 2-2
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