New York –It was the first double doubleheader between the Mets and San Francisco Giants since June 6, 2006 at Shea Stadium when they split a pair of games. The last time the Mets swept the Giants in one day was July 13, 1979, at Shea. Instead it was the Giants taking two from the Mets, 6-1 and 7-2, — last done April 13, 1997.
A double-dip of agony as New York now has lost five of their last six games and after 16-games stand at 8-8. That 7-3 start after a win down in Atlanta a week ago, seems like a distant memory.
“They’re a tough team to pitch against,” said Mets manager Terry Collins about the Giants. “They run all those switch hitters against you. They just outhit us and outpitched us tonight. It was pretty simple.”
Simple but now complicated because Collins may have his first crisis of the season, even though the manager will not admit to it. “We have to attempt and try to execute better,” he said. His team went 2-for7 with runners in scoring position, and in the last four games, 7-for-48.
And when the pitching as it was in the doubleheader fails, driving in runs is essential. Ike Davis continues to struggle at Citi Field failing to reach base five times, once as a pinch hitter in the second game. He stranded the bases twice in both games and is 2-for-34 in the ten games played so far at home.
“You struggle and try to find out what is wrong,” he said. “Every day is a new day, that’s the game of baseball,” explained Davis about his inability to get on base. Collins leaves him in the lineup, explaining that he is one of the better home run hitters he has, and “you can’t let him sit on the bench.”
Collins opted to go with the veteran Miguel Batista in game one in order to give Johan Santana another day of rest. Santana gets the start Tuesday evening when the Mets welcome back an old friend, Jose Reyes and his new team the Miami Marlins.
Batista, as is the attitude with this Mets team, will not give in to the sudden struggle. He said to reporters in between games, “The challenge is to let Terry Know that I can pitch for the next game.” Meaning of course, if Batista was needed in game two, after throwing 77 pitches and giving up six runs in 3.2 innings, he would be available. That comment got some attention and a few laughs from the media, but Collins was not smiling after the uneventful night. Not when two games are lost in a matter of hours.
“Every time I executed my game plan they hit the ball on the ground,” said the 41- year-old right hander who gave up the first of his two home runs in the first inning to Buster Posey. In the third inning, Nate Schierholtz hit a 1-1 pitch that landed up in the Pepsi deck in right field.
For RF Nate Schierholtz, it was a twin bill for that a ballplayer will never forget. He had six hits, a triple and stolen base.
In his fourth start, Giants game one starter Tim Lincecum got his first win of the season. He allowed one run and striking out eight in 5.0 innings. He won his fourth consecutive start against New York with an ERA of 0.67, with 31 strikeouts.
Two additional home runs were hit by San Francisco off game two starter Dillon Gee who gave up a career high 12 hits, allowing seven runs in 6/2-3 innings.
No, there was no room for skipper Collins to smile.
And the Mets have an additional issue – ah, with Jason Bay who bruised his ribs trying to catch what went for a two-run double in the second game. He was lifted and x-rays were negative and will be re –examined Tuesday. He could go on the disabled list joining Ronny Cedeño who is sidelined with an intercostals left strain.
There was some good news. Outfielder Andrés Torres and pitcher D.J. Carrasco started their minor league rehabilitation assignments down in Port St. Lucie Florida, and they are making progress to rejoin the team.
However, it was a night for the Giants. “Anytime you take two games in one day it is great,” said Giants infielder Emmanuel Burriss.
e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com
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This post is provided in part by Towers At Waters Edge & Nassau County Rentals
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