IGT 8/12/14 WashingtonNat'ls @Mets: Montero-The 2nd coming.

[Zvon]

Three games verse the big boys, who have a 4 game lead over the Braves (NY 7 1/2 games out). Do we want to help Atlanta? Sure, why not...

Edited August 12, 2014 by Guest

[Guest d'Kong76]

Today is the 12th!!

Washington at NY Mets
When: 7:10 PM ET, Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Where: Citi Field, New York City, New York
SportsDirect Inc.

Although the Washington Nationals haven�t enjoyed an overwhelming amount of success against the National League East as a whole, they have done a number on the New York Mets. The Nationals, who hold a four-game lead in the East entering the first of three games in New York on Tuesday, are a combined 18-19 versus division rivals Atlanta, Miami and Philadelphia. However, Washington has won each of its three series against the Mets in 2014 while prevailing in seven of the nine meetings overall.

The Nationals took two of three at home from New York last week, but dropped two of three in Atlanta over the weekend to fall to 29-29 on the road � the only division leader in the majors with a non-winning record away from home. The Mets rebounded from their series loss in the nation�s capital by stealing three of four in Philadelphia following Monday�s 5-3 victory. Daniel Murphy, who leads the NL with 147 hits and posted his 43rd multi-hit game of the year in Monday�s win, is 13-for-29 versus Washington this season.

TV:
7:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP:
Nationals RH Doug Fister (11-3, 2.49 ERA) vs. Mets RH Rafael Montero (0-2, 5.40)

Fister bounced back from a hard-luck loss to the Phillies on Aug. 1 by holding the Mets to one unearned run on six singles while striking out seven over 7 1/3 innings in Wednesday�s 7-1 victory. The former seventh-round pick of the Seattle Mariners has been red-hot over his last eight outings, going 6-1 with a 1.96 ERA. Fister defeated New York in his only other career start as a member of the Detroit Tigers last season, yielding a run on eight hits in 6 1/3 frames.

With Jacob deGrom getting placed on the disabled list due to rotator cuff tendinitis, the Mets will recall Montero from Triple-A Las Vegas to fill in. The 23-year-old Dominican did not factor into the decision in his last turn for New York on May 30, giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks over 3 2/3 innings. Montero, who is 6-3 with a 3.28 ERA in 15 turns with the 51s, will make his fifth career big-league start and face the Nationals for the first time.

WALK-OFFS:
1. The Nationals have won eight consecutive road games in this series, outscoring the Mets 60-17.
2. Washington CF Denard Span is batting .431 during a 14-game hitting streak and has reached base safely in 36 straight games, one shy of the longest such run in the majors this season (Toronto�s Jose Bautista).
3. Nationals RF Jayson Werth (shoulder), who started on Sunday after being left out of the lineup in the previous two games, is 14-for-36 in nine games against New York this year.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Curtis Granderson � RF
Daniel Murphy � 2B
David Wright � 3B
Lucas Duda � 1B
Travis d�Arnaud � C
Matt den Dekker � LF
Juan Lagares � CF
Wilmer Flores � SS
Rafael Montero � RHP

[Guest d'Kong76]

Span, CF
Cabrera, 2B
Rendon, 3B
LaRoche, 1B
Desmond, SS
Harper, LF
Ramos, C
Taylor, RF
Fister, P

[Edgy MD]

Look at the bottom half of the Mets lineup. JV pushing the varsity aside pretty aggressively.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Let's hope the rain is less aggressive. Supposedly gonna
get a good soaking tonight.

[Zvon]

d'Kong76 wrote: Today is the 12th!!

Whoops. Sorry, ty.

[Frayed Knot]

-- That Michael Taylor in the Nats lineup will be making his ML debut tonight. A 23 y/o 6th round pick in 2009, his minor league career was going only so-so until suddenly blossoming this year at both AA & AAA [.315/.401/.547 combined. 45 XBH in < 400 ABs]
He is starting in place of the somewhat banged up Jayson Werth and replaces that Steven Souza guy we saw briefly last week who managed to run hisself into a wall over the weekend. Not a great way to stay in the bigs kid.

-- Starting catcher Wilson Ramos is back after missing the entire series last week in DC while on paternity leave.

-- Bryce Harper got into a minor amount of hot water in Atlanta when he "accidentally" dragged his spikes at least twice over the 'A' logo behind the plate on his way to the batter's box.
The really dorky part is him denying it afterward. Shiiit, boy, I know you're still just 21 y/o and all, but if you're going to do it--and it's so blatantly obvious you did--then just own up to it.

-- [from above] The Nationals have won eight consecutive road games in this series, outscoring the Mets 60-17
This needs to change.

[Zvon]

Montero looking good in the first. 2Ks, foul pop out to Duda (I'm not going to mention the double).(DOH!).

He is keeping it low, low and hard. Some nice pitches in the 1st.

[Zvon]

Shit-I stepped off. I didn't see the homer. Harper?! Dagnabbitt.

[Zvon]

Opposite field. Asshole can't get around on Montero.

[Zvon]

Raining now, pretty hard. And Harper sux (delayed reaction to his last play in left).

[Zvon]

Out comes the tarp. It's been raining pretty hard down here in SJ since this afternoon with no real breaks.

[Zvon]

Game resumes after a 25 min rain delay. Both starters remain in the game.

2-0 Nats

Hey Mets, get this kid some runs.


Pleeeeease.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Back on, and briskly-- already into the fourth, here.

While making that first out, Harper seems to have tweaked his anterior douche-iate ligament or something.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Montero's looking better, although the deep counts/his climbing pitch count do concern.

[Frayed Knot]

Watching Fister deliver a pitch every 8-10 seconds like he does (and being successful at it) pretty much sticks a knife into the argument/excuse that enforcing a pitch clock would somehow not allow pitchers "to properly do their jobs".

[Edgy MD]

Mets driving the ball hard but hitting a lot of leather.

And as I type that Span puts away a long drive for the third out.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Thought Travie had that one d'ead to rights.

[Edgy MD]

As unfamiliar territory as a batter's box must be for a career AL pitcher, the basepaths must really be alien terrain.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Gary Cohen's baseball mind just amazes the crap out
of me sometimes.

[Edgy MD]

I'm guessing Mike Torrez on the Howie Rose trivia question.

[Zvon]

d'Kong76 wrote: Gary Cohen's baseball mind just amazes the crap out of me sometimes.

Always amazes me. His baseball mind and his Mets knowledge. It's great that we fans realize how fortunate we are to have him.

[Edgy MD]

He guessed Torrez (and was right) also.

Who's the Bob Seger imitator who sings "I was BOOORRN free!"

[Edgy MD]

Boooo!

We've got to unpack the bats. Can't depend on the pitching to carry all the water.

[Guest d'Kong76]

For those not watching, Fister was on first and a line
drive is ripped to Duda and the ball bounces off his mitt
and Fister gets doubled up after Duda tags first and throws
to second. Fister should have just stayed at first was the
jist of the Keith and Gary conversation.

And then Gary whips out ... it was just like the play in the
1960 World Series when a similar play happens and Mantle
has the wherewithal to stay put at first. Really.

[Zvon]

Edgy MD wrote: He guessed Torrez (and was right) also. Who's the Bob Seger imitator who sings "I was BOOORRN free!"

No idea. I did notice the similarity. Raspy rock voice.

Fudge on that homer.

[Zvon]

And that one as well.

Montero's done.

[Zvon]

So does he get another look or do they bring up Syndergaard for deGroms next start?

[Fman99]