Game #35: Cardinals 6, Mets 3

New York's most valuable man at the plate tonight may well have been Carlos Beltran. (NOTE: You're not reading this in 2011.)

The Mets put up a three-spot in the 2nd inning but the Cardinals broke a tie in the 7th with three runs of their own, taking the series opener 6-3.

The Bad Stuff:

• After a rare quality start from someone not named Matt Harvey, the New York bullpen once again burst his bubble. Scott Rice gave up two runs in the bottom of the 7th, one of them coming home on a two-run homer Scott Atchison gave up to Matt Holliday in the same frame.
• The Mets improved on quality but lacked in quantity with RISP, hitting 2-3 in that situation and leaving seven men on base.

The Good Stuff:

• Jeremy Hefner had himself a third quality start in his last four, allowing three runs on five hits in six innings, walking four and striking out two.
• Daniel Murphy broke his slump in a big way, collecting three of his team's four hits on the night. One was a two-run double in the 2nd (admittedly the aforementioned Beltran lost a seemingly sure line drive in the sun) to put the team on the board. He then scored on David Wright's infield single two pitches later.

(NYDailyNews.com)

• Rick Ankiel made his debut for the orange and blue, starting in center field and scoring the team's first run after a leadoff walk in the 2nd.
• New York turned two more double plays, one of them completed by a rare outfield assist from Lucas Duda.

Final Analysis:
Focus on the positives. Focus on the positives. Murphy got some momentum going again. Hefner is turning into one of the better starers we have. We only struck out 10 times tonight instead of 12 or 16. I'm about to have a good Top Ten list for Rising Apple (check back soon for the link). Focus on the positives.

MM