Game #102: Mets 4, Reds 2

The Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey lasted 6.2 innings and gave up two runs. (NYTimes.com)

It appeared to be a case of deja-vu: New York leads late, home team comes back to steal the win. But Jason Isringhausen wasn't about to let that story back out into the limelight.

The Mets erupted for a 4-run 7th, highlighted by Daniel Murphy's 2-run double, and withstood two late Reds runs to hold on for the 4-2 victory.

The Good Stuff:

• After keeping quiet for 6 innings, the Amazin' offense finally came alive in the 7th inning.
• Jose Reyes reached on a one-out single and went to third on Justin Turner's single. Carlos Beltran followed with a sac fly to make it a 1-1 tie.
• After David Wright got on with a single of his own, Daniel Murphy broke the game open with a double to the wall in right that plated both runners, putting the Mets up for good.
• Jason Bay followed with his first double since the bronze age to score Murphy and provide a much-needed cushion.
• The 4-run 7th gave R.A. Dickey the run support he so craved and put him in line for the win. Dickey lasted 6 2/3 innings, allowing 2 runs on 8 hits, walking 1 and striking out 7.
• Pedro Beato was brought in to relieve Dickey, and when he couldn't seal the deal, Tim Byrdak was brought on to face Reds slugger Jay Bruce. Last year, when Byrdak was a member of the Houston Astros, he served up Bruce's home run that won the NL Central for Cincinnati. Revenge was sweet for New York's "Big-Time Timmy-Jim," who got Bruce swinging on 3 straight sliders to get out of the jam.
• Bobby Parnell pitched a hitless 8th and handed the ball off to Jason Isringhausen for the save. A groundout, a Wright error, a strikeout, a single, and a walk later, Brandon Phillips hoped to become the hero. But Izzy wasn't about to produce a repeat of yesterday's bullpen collapse, striking out Phillips on a 1-2 cutter to give the Mets a thrilling, if not heart-stopping, W.

The Bad Stuff:

• David Wright's defense continues to be an issue; in his 4 games back from injury he's got 3 errors. This is probably just lack of experience, lack of routine, but it would certainly help if he were to get back into his Gold Glove self.

Final Analysis:
Phew! That was a close one. It went from won to lost to won to lost to won again at the end, but the Mets got the job done. Good win.

MM