Game #153: Mets 6, Phillies 4

Now THAT is how you announce your return.

(NYDailyNews.com)

David Wright homered on the second pitch he saw in seven weeks and the Mets held off the Phillies 6-4 to start their final road trip of the season.

The Good Stuff:

• Last year, David Wright hit an injury-busting home run at Citizens Bank Park on the first pitch he saw. Last time it was only a couple days, this time it was nearly a couple months. I guess we could let him get away with using one more pitch.
• Wright's opposite-field shot off Cole Hamels, who he owns, put New York up 3-0 in the top of the 1st.
• Daniel Murphy went 3-5, scored three times, and drove in the game's first run.
• Eric Young went 2-5 with a double, run, and RBI. He also stole his 40th base of the season (32nd with the Mets). He would need to hit 38 home runs in the final nine games, an average of more than four per game, to earn a spot in the 40-40 club.
• The early offense was enough for Daisuke Matsuzaka, who allowed four runs (two earned) on four hits in six innings, walking three and striking out six on 96 pitches.
• Scott Atchison took care of the 7th inning, while a Vic Black-Pedro Feliciano combo handled the 8th, and LaTroy Hawkins locked down the 9th for his 11th save of the year.

The Bad Stuff:

• Young committed a 4th-inning error that led to two unearned runs for Philadelphia.
• Juan Lagares's struggles at the plate continued as he went 0-4 with two strikeouts.

Final Analysis:
With only nine games left after tonight, we all would have understood if David Wright took a slower approach to his rehab. But his presence in the lineup adds new meaning to these final meaningless games. With Captain America in the lineup, the Mets actually look somewhat formidable. Is he the be-all, end-all to New York's offensive struggles? No, but no one player is in baseball. But is a healthy David Wright a reassurance that 2014 will be an up year in Flushing? Yes.

MM