Wednesday, April 26, 2006By Mike Steffanos
Mets 4 - Giants 1
The offense wasn't scintillating, but it was good enough tonight. Home runs by Xavier Nady and Cliff Floyd, combined with great pitching from Steve Trachsel, Duaner Sanchez and Billy Wagner, proved to be the prescription to cure the 2-game losing streak.
Trachsel looked a little ragged for the first couple of innings, having trouble controlling his curveball and giving up a home run to Barry Bonds. After the second inning he was Trax at his best, nibbling away at the corners and frustrating the Giants. Unfortunately for Trachsel, it was Jamey Wright's turn to benefit from the Mets' maddeningly unproductive offense. After amassing 5 hits in the first couple of innings and only getting a single run out of it, the top half of each inning would prove short and frustrating. At one point I actually considering going to bed -- it was hard to watch another late game while the offense slumbered.
But the Mets rewarded my perseverance. Xavier Nady hit a home run in the top of the seventh to give the Mets the lead. Sanchez took over, and although he wasn't at his sharpest, he made the pitches when he needed to. Cliff Floyd put a ball in McCovey Cove with Wright on in the eighth to provide the insurance, and Wagner pitched a perfect ninth for his fifth save, and Trachsel had a well-deserved win.
Thoughts on the game
The defense was great tonight. Trachsel made a real athletic play, Chavez made some plays in center. The Mets aren't playing great ball right now -- but they are playing good fundamental baseball, and that gives you a chance to steal a few wins.
Kaz Matsui seems like he's really having a good time playing ball right now. He's not playing great but he's doing okay, and being a little loose will probably help him in the long run. He had another 2-hit game today. David Wright also had 2 hits.
The Mets and Giants play the rubber game tomorrow afternoon at 3:35 PM ET. Brian Bannister goes for the Mets. The web site says Matt Morris will pitch for San Francisco, although Keith and Gary said it would be Jason Schmidt on the telecast.
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