IGT 7/6/15 NYM @ SFG: It's Heston's Turn To Cry

[G-Fafif]

The Mets move up the California coast tonight (10:15 PM EDT) to take on the defending world champion San Francisco Giants and their starting pitcher Chris Heston, who no-hit them in New York last month. Except the Giants' record is no better than the Mets' and I don't remember a "Vander" in the middle of Chris and Heston, which is to say he ain't no Max Scherzer (and, technically, Max Scherzer weren't no Johnny Vander Meer, and grammar ain't what it used to be, neither).

Buster Posey is the National League's starting All-Star catcher. Don't slide into him if you don't want a delay of game.

Going for the Mets, their unexciting not so young lefty Jon Niese. They've won 2 of 3, or 2 of 6, or 6 of 10, or 6 of 17, or 11 of 23. Trend lines can vary.

[Ceetar]

I will watch this one in the town Vander Meer went to high school, just to prevent any such comparisons.

[Theoldmole]

Bob Murphy always used correct grammar in calling a game.

[Guest d'Kong76]

NY Mets at San Francisco
When: 10:15 PM ET, Monday, July 6, 2015
Where: AT&T Park, San Francisco, California
SportsDirect Inc.

Following an 0-6 road trip, the San Francisco Giants return home Monday to begin a three-game series against the New York Mets. The Giants will actually arrive in San Francisco about six hours before Monday night�s game after staying Sunday night in Washington, D.C., where they were outscored 14-5 by the Nationals in three games over the weekend.

The Mets broke out of a lengthy offensive slump with 15 hits in Sunday�s 8-0 victory against the Dodgers and saw Wilmer Flores reinforce his claim as the club's regular second baseman. Flores had a career-high four hits along with three RBI in the victory and went 10-for-13 during the three-game series. The Giants have struggled without right fielder Hunter Pence (strained wrist tendon), but the team�s emotional leader took batting practice Sunday and could return before the end of the month. Center fielder Angel Pagan returned to the starting lineup Sunday after missing Saturday�s contest, but his swollen left knee remains a concern.

TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Jonathon Niese (3-8, 3.90 ERA) vs. Giants RH Chris Heston (8-5, 3.78)

Niese�s winless streak reached a career-high nine starts against the Cubs on Tuesday despite yielding one run over seven innings in a 1-0 loss. �It's tough,� Niese told reporters. �It�s tough to swallow, but you�ve got to be professional about it. You've got to forget about it and not worry about it.� Brandon Crawford is 5-for-12 with a home run against the 28-year-old, who is 1-3 with a 2.92 ERA in seven career games (six starts) against the Giants.

Heston is facing the Mets for the first time since tossing a no-hitter against them on June 9, when he struck out 11 in the Giants� 5-0 victory. The 27-year-old rookie has been a revelation for the Giants while yielding three runs or fewer in six of his last seven starts. Heston, who is making his second career start against the Mets, owns a 3.12 ERA in eight starts at home this season compared to a 4.44 ERA in eight outings on the road.

WALK-OFFS:
1. The Mets� bullpen has allowed four runs in its last 10 games covering 28 innings.
2. San Francisco has won five of its last seven at AT&T Park following a nine-game home losing streak.
3. New York is 6-19 over its last 25 road games.

[Frayed Knot]

I managed to stay up for the 10:10 start vs LA but the Giants don't start their home games until 10:15 EDT, not sure I can handle the later start.

Giants are once again Pence-less (as they were during our earlier series) but now are also Aoki-less which changes things a bit as I believe he had 43 hits against us last month alone.
Justin Maxwell and/or Gregor Blanco have been getting the fill-in time at the corner OF spots and they've even moved Brandon Belt out to LF on days when Posey plays 1B.

After Heston tonight (we owe this guy an ass-kicking and he's been pretty ordinary since his no-no: 1-2 in 4 starts) ...
we'll see Matt Cain [Tues 10:15] in just his second start since hitting the DL in the middle of last season. He didn't look good in Start #1 vs the Marlins last week: 5 ER on 7 hits + 4 walks over 5 innings.
On Wednesday (3:30 start) we get Jake Peavy in just his 4th start of the year. He lost his first 3 looking bad against SD [4 ER on 4 Hits in 4 IP], even worse vs Arizona [4 ER on 8 Hits in 3.2] and then less bad at the Nats [2 runs over 6.1]

[Centerfield]

I am sure it's not the case, but I feel like we haven't won in San Francisco in a decade.

[G-Fafif]

Reactivate your memories of Kirk Nieuwenhuis. He's startin' tonight!

Curtis Granderson - RF
Ruben Tejada - SS
Daniel Murphy - 3B
Wilmer Flores - 2B
Michael Cuddyer - 1B
Kirk Nieuwenhuis - LF
Johnny Monell - C
Jonathon Niese - LHP
Juan Lagares - CF

[G-Fafif]

Centerfield wrote: I am sure it's not the case, but I feel like we haven't won in San Francisco in a decade.

Mets swept the Jints two years ago at Phone Company Park. But your feeling is not without merit.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Blanco, LF
Adrianza, SS
Duffy, 3B
Posey, C
Pagan, CF
Belt, 1B
Maxwell, RF
Arias, 2B
Heston, P

[ashie62]

Kirk Nieuwenhuis? aagghhh

[Fman99]

Could this shit start any later? I am falling asleep for fuck's sake and it's 10:13 and no one has thrown a pitch yet. Fucking round planet and time zones.

[Edgy MD]

Hit by Tejada.

Suck on it, Omega Man.

[Fman99]

Ashie62 wrote: Kirk Nieuwenhuis? aagghhh

No, he's good now!

[Edgy MD]

Come on, gents. He's subbing for Duda for the evening. It HAD to be done.

[Zvon]

Gelbs: Wilmer, did you feel this hitting streak coming on or did it just happen?

[Edgy MD]

Giants not wearing name-on-backs, but the ballboys are.

[Edgy MD]

Hitting the ball hard but at-em a lot this evening.

[Zvon]

OMG. That I've never seen. Im sure it happens, but I have never seen that. Absolutely no one there.

[Zvon]

I've seen that happen at other bases, but not first. Amazin'.

[Edgy MD]

That was about as seeing-eye as they come.

Not sure Tejada would have had him, had he picked it, but gosh, both gloves were in position, but too high.

[Edgy MD]

Way to throw out Duffy from the Oakland side of the bridge, Ruben.

[Zvon]

Edgy MD wrote: Way to throw out Duffy from Oakland, Ruben.

That was nice. So maybe he would have got him on that earlier play. You notice the quick throw? Flores would have done a little 2 step dance before throwing on his 3rd step. T did take steps but they were like lightning.


MUPPET ALERT!

[Edgy MD]

That weird little worm-burner may end up being the Giants' only hit.

[Zvon]

Edgy MD wrote: That weird little worm-burner may end up being the Giants' only hit.

Ha. To Heston. Niese does look economically effective. Very nice so far.
Hey, like Gary said-GET HIM SOME RUNS!!!

[Zvon]

38 pitches thru 5. That's crazy good.

I must have mis-read that---or it updated or something. 48 thru 5.

Edited July 6, 2015 by Guest

[Edgy MD]

Lots of hard-hit infield outs.

Let's elevate just a bit, men.

[Guest themetfairy]

And this is the inning where Niese loses it....

[Zvon]

themetfairy wrote: And this is the inning where Niese loses it....

close.


But no banana.

[Zvon]

Wilmer, did you feel that hit coming on or did you just swing and hit it?

[Frayed Knot]

Sheesh - an infield pop-up (maybe broken bat) on a 2-0 count for Cuddyer.