Game #128: Mets 2, Astros 1

(NYDailyNews.com)

Mets fans have been waiting a long time to go crazy. Ike Davis gave them that chance today.

Davis hit his second career walk-off home run and his second round-tripper of the day to propel the Mets to a much-needed 2-1 series-clinching win over the Astros.

The Good Stuff:

• Ike Davis had already provided offense for New York in the 4th inning with a massive solo home run that landed about 10 rows up in the Pepsi Porch. The team would have to call on him again in the 9th when Houston tied the game and threatened to spoil the Sunday afternoon affair. Ike would abide once again, turning on a 2-0 slider from Wilton Lopez and depositing it just out of reach of Ben Francisco over the right field fence.
• The team and its fans were elated as Davis rounded the bases and did a 360 in the air before landing on home plate. Later on he would receive an honor not bestowed upon a Met since David Wright got one on July 5: a celebratory pie-in-the-face from Justin Turner. Whipped or shaving, it would've tasted like victory.
• Jeremy Hefner tossed his best game as a pro, going 8 scoreless innings before letting the tying run come in in the 9th. Hef allowed 5 hits, walked 1, and struck out 7, but was relieved after his 103rd pitch went for a run-scoring double by Marwin Gonzalez.
• Lucas Duda returned to the lineup after a stint in Buffalo, going 0-2 with a walk. But in his first game in left field, Big Dude repented for questionable work on the Gonzalez double by throwing him out at the plate after a Ben Francisco single. Tie preserved, stage set for Ike magic.

The Bad Stuff:

• Aside from Ike's two bombs the rest of the New York offense was pretty nonexistent, with David Wright and Kelly Shoppach accounting for the rest of the team's hits (one each). The team hit 0-3 with RISP and left 4 men on.

Final Analysis:
A series win! Only the second since the All-Star Break but we'll take what we can get. Ike Davis won back the last few remaining fans he lost in the first two months and now has 24 on the season. Jeremy Hefner's audition for a roster spot next year exceeded expectations and bolstered the reputation of New York's already stellar starting rotation. While the offensive struggles are still disturbing, a win is a win. Savor it while you can.

MM