IGT 05/09 - Phillies at Mets

[Guest d'Kong76]

Philadelphia at NY Mets
When: 7:10 PM ET, Friday, May 9, 2014
Where: Citi Field, New York City, New York
SportsDirect Inc.

Two teams desperate for a victory square off Friday as the Philadelphia Phillies visit the New York Mets in the opener of a three-game set. The Phillies were swept by the Toronto Blue Jays in a four-game home-and-home series this week, losing the four contests by the combined margin of 35-11. The Mets were off Thursday after suffering a three-game sweep at the hands of the Miami Marlins, including back-to-back shutouts to end the series.

New York has lost six of its last seven games overall since defeating Philadelphia 6-1 on April 29. The Phillies, who have lost six of their last eight, send veteran Roberto Hernandez to the mound. Hernandez is coming off his best outing of the season, while New York's Jenrry Mejia looks to rebound from his worst start of 2014.

TV:
7:10 p.m. ET, CSN (Philadelphia), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP:
Phillies RH Roberto Hernandez (2-1, 4.50 ERA) vs. Mets RH Jenrry Mejia (3-0, 5.23)

Hernandez allowed only four hits over 7 1/3 scoreless innings his last time out against Washington. Prior to that outing, the 33-year-old had not worked more than six frames in a start all season. Only two members of the Mets have extensive experience against Hernandez, including Curtis Granderson (.415 average and three homers in 41 at-bats with a .500 on-base percentage).

Following back-to-back starts in which he did not allow a run, Mejia has struggled over his last two outings. He was charged with season highs of eight runs and nine hits in a season-low 4 1/3 innings Saturday against Colorado and has given up more hits in his last two starts (17) than he did in his first four outings (16). Philadelphia's hitters may look to attack early, as opponents are 10-for-24 (.417) with two homers and 10 RBIs when facing an 0-0 count against Mejia.

WALK-OFFS:
1. Opponents are batting just .229 against Mejia at home, where he is 2-0 with a 3.44 ERA this season. He has posted a 7.53 ERA on the road, where batters are hitting .293 against him.
2. The Mets have not scored in 23 innings and batted only .157 in the series versus the Marlins.
3. Phillies OF Marlon Byrd recorded two hits in each of the four games against the Blue Jays.

[Ceetar]

I will test out 710's signal tonight. Leaving around 6:30 to head down towards Virginia and stopping for the night just outside Baltimore.

Of course, if it gets spotty I'm going to switch to MLB At-Bat so such test may be stunted.

[Edgy MD]

Where outside of Baltimore? Maybe I can buy you a mass-produced prefabricated adult beverage.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Where outside of Baltimore? Maybe I can buy you a mass-produced prefabricated adult beverage.

Linthicum Heights. I'd welcome it, but Google tells me that's the other side of Baltimore from the fabled Villa de Laura. And it looks like my ETA is like 10pm best case (really anytime "before the game ends" is best case) and ETD is 9:30am the next morning. 6.5 hours each way so I'm doing my best to split it up as much as possible over the three days.

[Edgy MD]

Have a nice trip. What a delightful sounding burg "Linthicum Heights" is. Sounds like sanctuary for the dangerously insane and heavily drugged.

[Benjamin Grimm]

To me it sounds like a place where there would be mountains of discarded batteries.

[Ceetar]

I actually stayed in that area once before, the last time the Mets were down there. Got to the hotel the same time as an ambulance. No idea what was going on. Felt like your typical just out side the airport hotel strip. Right off the highway, so suits me.

I'm hoping for a captivating game to keep me occupied while driving, which means I'll either get a 12-0 blowout with little going on, or it'll be a snoozefest through about 8 and the Mets will get the go-ahead run to the plate just as I pull into the hotel and have to get out.

[Edgy MD]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: To me it sounds like a place where there would be mountains of discarded batteries.

Or a town founded by lisping Giants fans.

[Ceetar]

This is neat. I bet my phone's gonna auto pop-up a travel time Google Now card this evening too.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Edgy MD wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: To me it sounds like a place where there would be mountains of discarded batteries. Or a town founded by lisping Giants fans.

Good one!

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Edgy MD wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: To me it sounds like a place where there would be mountains of discarded batteries. Or a town founded by lisping Giants fans.

This was my first thought.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

The Age of Flowers begins tonight.

Lagares-8
Murphy-4
Wright-5
Granderson-9
CYoung-7
Satin-3
Flores-6
d�Arnaud-2
Mejia-1

[Edgy MD]

Holy crap, that's an infield that better hit.

Only way to make it more brutalist is to stick Duda at first and knock Satin over to third.

Enjoy the ride, Jenrry.

Friday night homecoming start, and his rotation spot is totally on the line here, isn't it?

[Benjamin Grimm]

I think it is, yes.

[Frayed Knot]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: The Age of Flowers begins tonight. Lagares-8 Murphy-4 Wright-5 Granderson-9 CYoung-7 Satin-3 Flores-6 d�Arnaud-2 Mejia-1

Hmmm, I wonder why Satin? ... Fausto Hernandez isn't a southpaw ... not unless he's gone from changing names to changing hand dominance that is.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Adam Rubin ?@AdamRubinESPN 15m Lucas Duda in hospital with stomach illness getting IV, Terry Collins says, per @AnthonyDiComo Expand

[Edgy MD]

A smart stomach virus should know better. He's gonna kick that virus's ass, and it won't be pretty.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I've yet to see a pretty stomach ailment.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Throw good pitches Mejia, you're pitching for your life
Yay it's great to be home, with no more road trip strife

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

The HD closeups are as kind to Mejia's, um, young complexion as they are to greying anchors' crows-feet and sideline reporters of a certain age.

The umpire tonight? A little kinder to our young hero, especially on the generous Marlon Byrd backwards-K to end the Phils' first.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

"I like his hair. He has hair like a girl."

-YoungerPooper, on Jenrry

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Christ, Duda looks like... well, even more like death than usual.

Also, WHYAREYOUINTHEDUGOUTYOUNGMANYOUGOHOMERIGHTTHISSECOND.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

We seem to have a bead on that sinker early.

You know what's good for flu-like symptoms, young man? Some nice first-inning stew, the likes of which we've got here for Mr. Granderson...

Edited May 9, 2014 by Guest

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

... Mr. Granderson, who's in a stirrin' kinda mood tonight.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Are they showing deathly Duda?

Need Satan to stay out of do here.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Are they showing deathly Duda? Need Satan to stay out of dp here.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

"That wasn't unintentional there, I don't think, by Mr. Carmona."

-The Eli in our booth, with whom I don't not disagree

[And yeah, they showed him sitting in the dugout... which makes perfect sense, because how can you stay inside on a night like tonight?]

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Satin needs a stay in the Flamingo Hilton.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Fail, Satan.

You know what also helps a flu? Some Campbells. Like, NOW.

[Frayed Knot]

Uh Josh, Skip'd like to see you in his office.