IGT Thu 9/24 @ Reds: Slump Buster

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

The Mets travel to Cincinnati, ready to shake off the shit that's troubled them the past three series, run off a series of wins, and clinch this motherfathering division already.

Standing upon the mound to try to stop them is Josh Smith (0-2, 7.71)
Stephen Matz (4-0, 1.80) leads the charge to start a new streak.

[Guest d'Kong76]

You are the driver, you own the road!
[youtube:2kmhf358]V4wYaLs92RQ[/youtube:2kmhf358]

[G-Fafif]

Did somebody say STAND UP AND SHOUT? Because this, sadly, is what that makes me think of.

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[Guest d'Kong76]

No, no, no...

You are the driver
You own the road
You are the fire
Go on explode
You've got desire
So let it out
You've got the power
Stand up and shout!!!!

[Edgy MD]

Ronnie James can fix this.

[Guest d'Kong76]

GAME: New York Mets (85-67) at Cincinnati Reds (63-88)
DATE/TIME: Thursday, September 24 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
Covers Media Group, Ltd.

With six losses in their last eight contests, the New York Mets hardly have the look of a team on the verge of its first National League East title since 2006. The Mets vie to inch closer to that goal on Thursday, when they begin a seven-game road trip with the opener of a four-game series versus the Cincinnati Reds. Bottom line is the Mets have not looked hungry for heaven.

New York was outscored 12-5 en route to losing the last two contests of a three-game set against Atlanta but remained 6 1/2 games ahead of second-place Washington with 10 to play after the Nationals dropped two in a row to their Beltway rival. Daniel Murphy launched a solo homer in the Mets' 6-3 setback to the Braves to extend his hitting streak to six games, during which he is 9-for-21 (.429) with two blasts and five RBIs. While New York has its eyes on the postseason, Cincinnati fell back into the basement of the NL Central following its fourth straight loss. Joey Votto, who swatted a solo homer in a 10-2 rout by St. Louis, has reached base safely in 40 consecutive games - one shy of his career high.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FSN Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Steven Matz (4-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. Reds RH Josh Smith (0-2, 7.71)

Matz improved to 2-0 in his last three starts since returning to the rotation after allowing one run and seven hits in six innings of a 5-1 triumph over the New York Yankees. The 24-year-old has pitched well in all five outings this season, permitting six runs and 24 hits in 30 frames. Matz picked up the win in his lone career meeting with Cincinnati, yielding two runs and five hits in 7 2/3 innings of a 7-2 victory on June 28.

Smith struggled in his last outing on Saturday, allowing four runs and six hits in four innings against Milwaukee but escaping with a no-decision. The 28-year-old pitched a bit better when he faced the Mets on June 28, permitting three runs and four hits, but his four walks drove up his pitch count to force his exit after five frames. Smith has done better with free passes, issuing just two in his last 6 1/3 innings after walking 13 batters in his first 12 1/3.

WALK-OFFS:
1. Mets 3B David Wright has hit safely in three straight contests and eight of his last nine.
2. Cincinnati 3B Todd Frazier is 7-for-21 (.333) during his five-game hitting streak.
3. Mets OF Curtis Granderson is 2-for-19 (.105) with six strikeouts in his last six contests.

[ashie62]

I believe Matz homered off this pitcher. Yee hah!

[Guest sharpie]

Metlegs:

1. Curtis Granderson (L) RF

2. David Wright ® 3B

3. Daniel Murphy (L) 2B

4. Yoenis Cespedes ® CF

5. Lucas Duda (L) 1B

6. Travis d'Arnaud ® C

7. Michael Conforto (L) LF

8. Ruben Tejada ® SS

9. Steven Matz ® P


Redlegs:

1. Jason Bourgeois ® CF

2. Ivan De Jesus ® LF

3. Joey Votto (L) 1B

4. Brandon Phillips ® 2B

5. Todd Frazier ® 3B

6. Jay Bruce (L) RF

7. Eugenio Suarez ® SS

8. Brayan Pena (S) C

9. Josh Smith ® P

[Ceetar]

wow, early lineup.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Let's see some bustout for Doodoo here. Nice park to crank a few.

[G-Fafif]

The 1999 Mets did some fancy playoff spot clinching in Cincinnati.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Can we add Edgardo Alfonzo to the 40-man roster?

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

G-Fafif wrote: The 1999 Mets did some fancy playoff spot clinching in Cincinnati.

Yes! And fans threw ice at Rickey Henderson.

[ashie62]

Kinda the regular lineup. I would drop Duda behind Travis and Conforto for awhile.

[Edgy MD]

He has been back there for a while. Now he's busted back up and I salute it.

[Zvon]

I feel it's so important that I made this and its my fb header tonight.

[fimg=500:ogouy05o]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-08rMdamj4Pg/VgSJHms7eGI/AAAAAAAAfuE/XPB_3qdrjzU/s720-Ic42/Duda%252520Be%252520BIG-fbheader-z15.png[/fimg:ogouy05o]

[ashie62]

Conforto succeeds.

[Zvon]

1-0 Reds after 2.

[Zvon]

1-1 Mets

[Zvon]

Good baseball.

2-1 Mets

[ashie62]

Props to Duda and Muffy.

[Zvon]

DUDA!!

3-1 Mets

[ashie62]

How about that Matz kid.

[Zvon]

I had one a those glow balls. You had to leave it under a light for awhile before you shut the lights off, otherwise it wouldn't glow.

[Zvon]

Matz has to reach back for a little something extra here vs Votto.

Niiiice, gets an inf pop out.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Thought Frazier got all of that... sigh of relief...

[Zvon]

Whew.

Phillips got to Matz for a RBI single.

3-2 Matz.

More runs please.

[Zvon]

Matz outta gas? No ones up....

Red on 2nd, one out.

[Zvon]

GAH!! bad hop single past Wright!

3-3 and that's it for Matz.

Damn.

[Fman99]

Well, poop.