Game #141: Mets 2, Indians 1

Only 13,317 people descended upon Progressive Field for the afternoon game, and both teams combined to use about as many pitchers over the 3 hours and 43 minutes. Fortunately for New York, it was the speedy one who finally put them over the top.

Eric Young's RBI double in the top of the 9th gave the Mets a 2-1 lead, and eventually win, over the Indians in the series finale.

The Good Stuff:

• After putting runners in scoring position with no out and failing to plate anybody in the top of the 8th, Eric Young made sure the same didn't happen on his watch in the 9th, lining a two-out double to right to score Matt den Dekker and make it 2-1.
• LaTroy Hawkins finished the Tribe off for his 8th save, aided by the strong arm of Anthony Recker, who threw out Mike Aviles at second.
• Justin Turner capped his excellent series with his second home run in three days, a solo shot in the 4th to break the scoreless tie.
• Daisuke Matsuzaka bent but didn't break through 5.2 innings, allowing one earned run on three hits, walking three and striking out six on 103 pitches.

The Bad Stuff:

• Vic Black hit Asdrubel Cabrera with the bases loaded in the 6th, leading to the only run charged against Matsuzaka.
• Frank Francisco (remember him?) needed a double play to get out of the 8th after walking the bases loaded, and it was he who scooped up the W in his 2013 debut (about a month too soon, I think).
• New York hit just 1-9 with RISP, including three missed chances in the 8th, and stranded 10 men on base in a lackluster offensive weekend.

Final Analysis:
A win is a win, and this win gives the Mets 64 on the season. I don't really think there's much else to say about that.

The team starts their final long homestand of the season tomorrow night as they host the Nationals for four days, followed by four against the Marlins in a long weekend series, followed by an off day and three against the soon-to-be-dethroned world champion San Francisco Giants.

MM