Sunday, May 19, 2013

Game #41: Mets 4, Cubs 3

In today's contest of the hapless, it wasn't one team giving it to the other. This time, the team from New York took it by force.

(NYDailyNews.com)
Daniel Murphy's solo shot in the 8th provided the go-ahead run, and Bobby Parnell topped off four perfect innings from the bullpen, as the Mets waltzed out of Wrigleyville with a 4-3 win over the Cubs.

The Good Stuff:
  • David Wright got the scoring going in the top of the 6th with an RBI single.
  • Down 3-1 in the 7th, Ruben Tejada dropped a two-out Texas-League base hit to bring up Juan Lagares, who pounded his first big-league home run to the back row of bleachers.
    • Lagares also had himself a double in the top of the 3rd; the hits on the day were his second and third XBHs of his career, and the home run gave him his first two RBIs.
  • In the next inning, newly-installed leadoff hitter Daniel Murphy overcame an 0-3 start and fired a rocket to right center to put the Mets on top. It was Murph's fourth home run in his last four games at the National League's Grand Old Lady.
  • Murphy's laser stood up for Scott Rice, who had half of the Mets' bullpen's four innings of perfect relief. Greg Burke bailed out Dillon Gee by sitting the Cubs down 1-2-3 in the 6th, then Rice took Chicago six up, six down in the 7th and 8th.
  • Bobby Parnell put the nail in the coffin with a blistering 9th, sending up the home team's "L" flag with his third save of the road trip.
The Bad Stuff:
  • Dillon Gee continued to be a five-inning starter, allowing three runs on eight hits and not getting a single out in the 6th.
Final Analysis:
What's this - a hot streak for our Mets? Since dropping six in a row, the Amazin's have pulled off three wins in their past four games. Murphy and Wright continue their respective tears, and Bobby Parnell finally seems comfortable in the closer role. Will this good fortune last? That remains to be seen, but for now at least, a handful of pieces are falling into place.

Another piece falling into place: another ace is approaching the big ball club, as Rafael Montero was just promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas. Imagine, if you will, a near-future rotation consisting of Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Rafael Montero, Noah Syndergaard, and Jonathon Niese. Scary good.

MM

No comments:

Post a Comment