The Mets lineup tonight was missing Beltran, Piazza, and Matsui (although Cairo may actually be an improvement on Kazuo), and on the mound was Kazuhiza Ishii, who has little to recommend him other than his status as starting pitcher on the All-“ii” team (the only other members to my knowledge are Torii Hunter and Larry Biittner). Easy win for the Bravos, yes?
Win? Yes. Easy? You haven’t been watching lately.
After a David Wright HR gave the Metropolitans a 1-0 lead, the Braves mounted a rally in the bottom of the second. After two outs, the unlikely triumverate of Mondesi, Brayan Pena, and Wilson Betemit managed to load the bases, then Ishii walked Horacio for the tying run. How bad is that? Then Furcal (who, I’m guessing, is happy to be home) tripled on an Ishii-patented “nothing pitch” to clear the bases.
Marcus Giles checked in with a 3-run HR in the fourth, and the Braves were cruising 7-3. Horacio left after seven innings, having given up 4 runs, but looking pretty good overall. Then the fun began.
Adam Bernero was uncharacteristically shaky, allowing a hit and two walks, the second walk with the bases loaded. Reitsma came in to face Mientxzrw#%sstz, who grounded sharply to first. Julio threw to second for the force on Wright, but Furcal’s return throw was wild, and two runs scored to tie the game, just as you knew would happen.
But wait! In comes the second base umpire and, in the equivalent of calling travelling in the NBA, calls M—– out due to interference by Wright at second. Wright got tossed for arguing, but the replay showed that it was an obvious call. So obvious, in fact, that not to call it would completely obviate the need for the rule.
The Braves scored an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth, which in retrospect might have been the worst thing they could have done, as Reitsma’s spot came up in the order, and Cox pinch hit for him. With nothing but right-handers due up in the ninth, the game was left to Dan Kolb (or Dank Lob, as he’s known over at Braves Journal). And by the strictest definition of the word (get three outs before the other team can score three runs), he did the job. That’s the best I can say.
Couple of other notes:
–Andruw came thisclose to catching Wright’s HR, the ball popping out of his glove as his wrist hit the top of the wall. Then he coulda/shoulda caught Reyes’ 9th inning triple, but Brian Jordan was too busy playing safety and nearly collided with him. Good news is Andruw wasn’t hurt. Bad news is Jordan wasn’t either.
–Wilson Betemit managed a double and two walks, and is now batting a cool .308/.444/.556. I wouldn’t have guessed it before the season, but the fallen prospect has been a real asset for us in Chipper’s absence.
–Rush Limbaugh visited the booth in the second inning, and Skip gushed “I listen to you all the time”. No comment, I’ll leave that one to A Brett.
Brave-O-Matic 