IGT 5/3 - Pirates at Mets

[Guest KC]

(05/03/2006 Ticker or something) Pedro Martinez tries to win his first six starts of the season for the first time since 1997 when he takes the mound for the New York Mets Wednesday in the opener of a two-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Martinez (5-0, 2.94 ERA) has helped the Mets (17-9) to the top of the National League East with five stellar performances. The right-hander pitched seven innings last Friday, allowing two runs and striking out five in a 5-2 win over the Atlanta Braves. He is holding hitters to a .165 batting average.

''The guy still knows how to pitch,'' Braves third baseman Chipper Jones said. ''He's not throwing 96 (mph) like used to, but he's sinking it, he's cutting it, he's changing speeds on us.''

The right-hander can win his first six outings of the season for the first time since opening 1997 8-0 with the Montreal Expos en route to his first Cy Young Award. He is trying to become the first Met to accomplish the feat since Frank Viola won seven consecutive to start the 1990 season.

Martinez is 9-3 with a 2.78 ERA in 17 games - 13 starts - against the Pirates.

Martinez has utilized the retooled Mets bullpen in each of the games, as Duaner Sanchez has entered in relief in three of the starts for his Dominican Republic compatriot.

The right-handed reliever, acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the offseason, is on a streak of his own. Sanchez has thrown 17 scoreless innings through his first 12 appearances this season. He has thrown two perfect innings in his last two games and has a .127 opponent batting average overall.

''You can't say more,'' Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca said. ''Sanchy, you can talk about a lot of guys on this team, but to me, he's our MVP. He's been unbelievable.''

The former Pirate has become the link to closer Billy Wagner, who signed with the Mets in the offseason as a free agent from the Philadelphia Phillies.

Wagner has converted seven of nine save attempts, four of them coming in relief of Sanchez.

The Pirates (8-20) will counter with 24-year-old Ian Snell (1-2, 5.79), who is looking to build on his most impressive outing of the season.

''We're more focused on Ian Snell going out and pitching a game,'' Pirates manager Jim Tracy said of the matchup against Martinez, ''and pitching his game -- very similar to the one he pitched in his previous outing. That's what he has control over.''

The promising right-hander went seven innings, giving up one run - none earned - in a 3-1 win over the Phillies on Friday.

Snell looks to take momentum from the Pittsburgh's 8-0 win over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, as they seek consecutive wins for just the third time this season.

Jeromy Burnitz went 1-for-5 with a two-run homer on Tuesday. He is struggling at the plate recently, however, with a .150 batting average in his last 11 games.

[Theoldmole]

Hey Larry...do you still know how to hit?

[Willets Point]

Oh good it wasn't me who started the IGT so the Mets have a chance.

[Gwreck]

Pittsburgh
Chris Duffy CF
Jack Wilson SS
Freddy Sanchez 3B
Jason Bay LF
Jeromy Burnitz RF
Jose Hernandez 1B
Ronny Paulino C
Jose Castillo 2B
Ian Snell P

Mets
Reyes SS
Matsui 2B
Beltran CF
Delgado 1B
Wright 3B
Floyd LF
Castro C
Chavez RF
Pedro P

[Guest Hillbilly]

Pedro gives up a HR in the first. 0-1.

[Gwreck]

Pedro sets down 7 in a row after the homer. 5 Ks.

[Theoldmole]

Rick Peterson, in a dugout interview, describes Billy Wagner as a future Hall of Famer. Thoughts?

[Theoldmole]

Wright a chance to break his slump with two men on.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

I think that Rick Peterson is building up his closer's cahnfidence with statements like that.

[Theoldmole]

Omar is always looking for ways to improve the team.

You'll be pleased to hear.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

And he believes that you can't fall asleep while pitching.

[Theoldmole]

Goliath strikes out David.

[Theoldmole]

Omar spends a lot of time on the Internet.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

Omar Minaya = CPF Lurker?

[Theoldmole]

I guess it's time for me to let you all in on my little secret. I am Omar Minaya.


...or maybe Charlotte Simmons.

[Theoldmole]

7 K's for Pedro. In the rain.

[Theoldmole]

7 K's for Pedro. In the rain.

[Gwreck]

TheOldMole wrote: 7 K's for Pedro. In the rain.

"Water is a blessing...so I got wet." -- Pedro Martinez

[Theoldmole]

2 out and 2 on ... again. This time it's up to Kaz. Let's see if he can deliver.

[Theoldmole]

Nope.

[Gwreck]

Reyes not looking good, twice making big outs with 2 men on.

7 stranded through 4 innings.

[Guest Hillbilly]

Endy drives in Cliff with his thrid hit of the night. His BA most be pushing .300 now.

[Theoldmole]

Pedro out of a waterlogged game, in the lead.

[Centerfield]

Go Jose!!!

Why pull Pedro after only 77 pitches?

[Theoldmole]

And Reyes looks good on that one.

[Guest GYC]

Honestly... fuck Willie.

[Theoldmole]

I'm just as glad to see Pedro out of the mud. And they gambled on a big rally and won. So it turns out Willie's a genius. And if they stop the game after this inning and there'a a long rain delay, Pedro's gone anyway.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

Big time hit, concidering Pedro just got wasted so Valentin could bat.

[Guest Hillbilly]

I was watching Reyes and he didn't die, but rather pulled off a run scoring 3 bagger!

[Guest GYC]

TheOldMole wrote: I'm just as glad to see Pedro out of the mud. And they gambled on a big rally and won.

Yeah, thank God they pulled Pedro after 6 innings/77 pitches while only allowing 3 hits and 1 run while striking out 9 after our bullpen has been used a bit the last few games. Worst. Idea. Ever.