David Wright and the New York Mets offense finally got it started on Sunday Night and they would help starter Jonathon Niese, who pitched outstanding against the Atlanta Braves.
They got it going in the very first inning as Braves starter Ben Sheets took the mound. Sheets’ first start of the season actually came against the Mets on July 15th when he defeated them, pitching six scoreless innings. He was not so lucky this time around.
Mike Baxter led off with a one out single to right field. Wright came up next and would hit a double down the right field line on a hit and run play. This allowed Baxter to score as the Mets took the early 1-0 lead.
It was Wright’s first RBI in the game, his 800th in his career, which is third most in franchise history. Wright advanced to third on a throwing error by Jason Heyward . This allowed Ike Davis to drive in Wright when he singled to right field to make it 2-0 New York.
Jonathon Niese, meanwhile, had a stellar performance as he pitched eight complete innings of work. After two days of poor starting pitching, Niese gave New York a breath of fresh air.
He struck out five batters while allowing six hits and only walked two. Niese only gave up one run which came in the second inning when Freddie Freeman, coming off his five RBI night, homered to right center field.
The Mets would give Niese some run support as Sheets completed six innings of work and allowed four earn runs on eight hits. He also allowed a home run to Jordany Valdespin in the fifth to give the Mets a 5-1 lead.
After Niese was done in the top of the eighth, the Mets scored an important run in the bottom of the eighth when Andres Torres singled to center field off right hander Cristhian Martinez to score Valdespin as the Mets led 6-1.
The reason why that run was important is because the Mets bullpen almost blew it in the ninth as Niese performance was almost wasted. Left hander Josh Edgin came in to relieve Niese and had a comfy five run lead.
He first gave up a leadoff walk to Chipper Jones, followed by a hit by pitch to Freeman to put men on first and second with no outs. Edgin got Brian McCann to fly out to Baxter for the first out, but then walked batter Paul Janish to load up the bases.
It was now a save situation as Manager Terry Collins pulled out Edgin as closer Frank Francisco came in. Francisco did much worse. He walked pinch hitter Juan Francisco and Michael Bourn as the Mets lead dwindled to 6-3.
Francisco heightened the drama when he allowed a double to Martin Prado that scored two more runs. It was now 6-5 Mets as the Braves had men on second and third with a chance to take the lead. Collins saw enough and gave Francisco the hook and put in Jon Rauch to close it instead.
He would do just that by striking out Heyward, who was almost called safe at first when catcher Rob Johnson had to throw the ball to first to get him. It was not an easy ninth, but the Mets got it done in a 6-5 win. They now hit the road and resume play on Tuesday night at Cincinnati.
Original Story:
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August 14, 2012
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