IGT 06/20, Perros de Diablo a Metropolitans

[Guest Kong76]

(Sports Network) - Two-time Cy Young recipient Johan Santana hasn't pitched like an award winner as of late and will take the mound for the New York Mets this afternoon in the second test of a three-game series versus the Tampa Bay Rays at Citi Field.

Santana is 1-2 with a 9.56 earned run average over his last three starts and was pounded in his most recent outing on June 14 versus the New York Yankees. The Bronx Bombers waxed the Mets, 15-0, and rocked Santana for nine runs and nine hits through three innings. Santana fell to 8-4 in 13 starts this season and watched his ERA balloon to 3.29.

The left-hander, who is 5-1 in seven home starts this season, owns a 3-2 mark and a 2.79 ERA in 11 career games (7 starts) against Tampa Bay.

While the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies are slumping, the Mets pulled within two games of the top spot in the division after Friday's 5-3 win over the Rays in the series opener. Brian Schneider clubbed a three-run homer and Daniel Murphy added three hits for New York, who ended a two-game slide and opened a 10-game homestand in positive fashion.

Ryan Church had two hits and an RBI and David Wright knocked in a run, while Mets starter Fernando Nieve earned the win with six strong innings of one-run ball. Closer Francisco Rodriguez, after blowing a save opportunity Thursday at Baltimore, set down Tampa Bay in order in the ninth for his 18th save.

"I feel more confident in all my pitches," Nieve said. "I'm using more of my changeup, also. I'm just trying to throw the ball and hit spots. Today, I felt a little tired, so I just start working more with my offspeed pitches."

New York will also host the Cardinals and Yankees on the residency.

Tampa Bay has dropped three in a row since a six-game winning streak. B.J. Upton went 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI and a run scored on Friday for the Rays, who are six games off the lead in the AL East. Carlos Pena drove in a run, while starter Andy Sonnanstine yielded four runs on seven hits in six innings to absorb the loss.

"I'll have to sharpen up -- location is key for me," Sonnanstine said. "That one bad pitch (to Schneider) really hurt me. I felt confident and comfortable out there...I got to take ownership of this one. It's a tough one to swallow."

James Shields gets the nod for the Rays today and he is 0-1 in his previous two starts since a personal two-game winning streak. Shields last took the mound in a 5-4 victory versus Washington on June 14 and did not factor in the outcome, allowing four runs and nine hits in 6 1/3 frames.

The right-hander, who is 5-5 with a 3.52 ERA in 14 starts, hasn't pitched so well on the road this season as evidenced by his 1-3 mark and 4.15 ERA in six chances as the visiting pitcher. Shields has never faced the Mets.

Tampa Bay and New York are meeting for the first time since the Rays won two of three meetings at home from June 8-10, 2001. The Rays have won three of the past five matchups between the club's.

[MFS62]

]New York will also host the Cardinals and Yankees on the residency.

That looks like one of those phrases that had been translated from a foreign language by someone who didn't know the idioms of the topic.

Later

[ashie62]

We don't need a rainout

LETS

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

GO

Please god don't spoil my day out with Jr. Lunchpail we've been building up for weeks now

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

METS

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Rats!! I'm getting the Tigers and Brewers instead of the Mets!

[Guest Kong76]

Well, it looks like this should start on time.

[Guest themetfairy]

Three up, three down in the top of the first.

Let's score some runs here!

[Guest themetfairy]

Scoreless after one inning.

Brennaman had a lot of complimentary things to say about Citi Field on the broadcast. It's nice hearing someone say something nice about the Mets for a change.

[Guest Kong76]

I was surprised he didn't end the sentence, "even the new Yankee Stadium."

Murphy with a smooth 3-6-3 DP.

[Zvon]

metsguyinmichigan wrote: Rats!! I'm getting the Tigers and Brewers instead of the Mets!

I got this too so I shut it off.
Now I look and its on.
Nice Fox.

[Zvon]

Good timing anyway

Santos knocks in Church.
1-0 us

[Guest themetfairy]

1-0 Mets in the middle of the third.

The rain has started up again - let's keep the lead and make this official quickly!

[Guest Kong76]

I think it's in the FOX b'caster's contracts that they must talk about the Yankees.

It's fucking maddening -- shut up with it already.

[Guest themetfairy]

Brennaman wished "Happy Father's Day" tomorrow to all the dads out there.

Silly Tom - you need to wish them Happy Birthday!

[Zvon]

Thnx Tim.
asshole

[Guest themetfairy]

So much for the no-no.

[Guest themetfairy]

Fuck - the game is tied 1-1

[Zvon]

1-1

I have not heard anything regarding Santana's velocity.
It looks good.
Anything on that?

Castillo just ain't a two hand kinda guy, I guess.
A mirror image pop up of the blunderpop and he one hands it.

[Fman99]

It should be noted that the first hit came immediately after McCarver pointed out that there had not been any Rays hits yet.

What a dick.

[Guest Kong76]

For as much as that sucked (the miss) and as much as it's fun to say two
hands ('cause you should) really how many guys in the majors always use
two hand to squeeze a routine pop-up.

Looked like Castillo wanted to crack more of a smile. I wish did, 'cause
really in the end it's funny how this game can be sometimes.

[Guest themetfairy]

McCarver thinks that Omir Santos facially resembles Paul LoDuca.

WTF?

[Zvon]

themetfairy wrote: McCarver thinks that Omir Santos facially resembles Paul LoDuca. WTF?

lol.
Tim's gettin old.
Better check those glasses.

Then Buck chimes in and says a lil Tony Gwynn too.


Mmmmkay.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Thou shall not steal off Johan.

[Zvon]

haha, he was safe.
We'll take it tho.

The Fox graphic has Santana 91 to 92 on the fastball and 81-82 on the change.
I think that's a perfect differential.
Has anyone seen a pitch top 92?

[Zvon]

Don't believe that graphic.
He was safe.
Fox lies.

[Guest Kong76]

He was out, foot blocking the bag.

[Zvon]

That's not Buck in the booth with Tim.
Who is that guy?

[Guest Hawkeye57]

Homer for Pena. 2-1 now.

It was going so well.

[Guest Kong76]

Brennaman or something like that.
He sounds like Buck.