MVN - Most Valuable Network

Game Recap: Odalis Does It On Both Ends: Nationals 10- Mets 4

Odalis Perez got his first win of the season, and gave the Shea Stadium crowd fits on both sides of the ball as the Nationals beat the Mets 10-4 at Shea. Perez went 6 1/3 innings, gave up 4 runs and struck out 5, but it was the pitcher’s bat that was most valuable in the win. Odalis was a perfect 3-3 on the night, and drove in two runs to help contribute on both ends to the victory.

Nelson Figueroa did not have nearly as good of a night. Not only did Figueroa go hitless at the plate, but he had a terrible start as well. After cruising through a 1-2-3 first inning, he gave up single runs in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th inning. Then in the 5th the wheels completely fell off for the lifelong Mets fan. With two on and two out, former Mets farmhand Jesus Flores doubled to left driving in both runs to give the Nationals the lead for good at 5-3. Odalis Perez followed with his first of two RBI hits, and Figueroa had put the Mets in a hole they would never get out of.

Things got worse for the Mets in the 6th, though, when Washington tacked on 4 more runs. The inning was highlighted by a 2-RBI double off the left field wall by Lastings Milledge that missed a homerun by about a foot, and another RBI hit from the pitcher Perez. All 4 runs were charged to reliever Jorge Sosa, whose ERA ballooned to 7.06.

The Mets had a chance to get back in the game in the bottom of the 8th. Down 6 runs, they loaded the bases with 2 outs off Saul Rivera. But David Wright hit a weak grounder to 3rd and the inning was over without a run.

Wright did hit a solo homerun though in the 7th, as did Damion Easley in the 2nd. For Wright it was his 7th HR of the year, and it was Easley’s 1st.

Moises Alou went 3-5 in the loss to raise his average to .345 on the year.

Rizzi’s Rant:

The Mets continue to take one step forward, one step back. After a very solid series against the Reds, they put up a big stinker against a last place team. They had three leads in this game, and Figueroa gave up the lead every single time. I am a big fan of Figgy, due to his allegiances to the Mets, his childhood in New York, and his crazy, adventurous career. But he needs to rebound and put some good performances together, or his job is in serious jeopardy.

Jorge Sosa is also in danger of losing a job, as he got shelled once again in relief. Matt Wise is healthy and ready to be put in the bullpen. Someone’s going to get the shaft, and with the way Sosa pitched tonight it just might be him, whether he has options left or not.

Speaking of guys with options, Joe Smith has them and it is widely believed he will get sent down when Wise comes back because of those options. But Smith looked spectacular tonight, striking out the side in the 8th inning to make his case. Maybe, just maybe, the Mets changed their mind about what to do after tonight.

In the 2nd inning Elijah Dukes was leading a Little League-style chant in the dugout for Lastings Milledge, and then for Austin Kearns. This must have bothered Figueroa a lot, because when he got out of the inning he turned back to the Nationals dugout and mocked them with a cheer of his own. I have never in my 26 years on Earth seen a Major League team do a cheer like this, but personally I had no problem with it.

What I do have a problem with is Dukes complaining in the 9th inning about a called strike with the game well in hand. Dukes is a head case and no matter how much talent he has, I am glad he’s not a Met. He makes Lastings Milledge look like a model citizen. By the way, the pitch he was arguing about was about as perfect as possible. Keith Hernandez especially took exception to Dukes’ complaints, yelling out “Grab some pine!” in his best line of the season thus far.

Damion Easley somehow hit a 2nd inning homerun through a vicious wind 420 feet over the center field wall. Gary Cohen and Keith Hernandez were both in awe of the power he demonstrated, as was I. Easley started in place of Luis Castillo, who was bothered with a sore quad and is day-to-day.

Oh well, another let down loss after a big win. The season is showing a recurring theme. Let’s go get em’ tomorrow, I guess…

This entry was posted on Monday, May 12th, 2008 at 6:40 pm and is filed under Matt Wise, Nelson Figueroa, Rizzi's Rant, Keith Hernandez, Jorge Sosa, Lastings Milledge, David Wright, Elijah Dukes, Odalis Perez, Moises Alou. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.