Monday, June 19, 2006By Mike Steffanos
Reds 4 - Mets 2
I have to give Orlando Hernandez credit, he pitched one hell of a strong 7 innings tonight against a team that can mash. He deserved better than he got, but the Mets have continued their maddening trend of not being able to score runs at home. Bronson Arroyo pitched well against them, but they let him off the hook with a lot of quick outs. Because of that, Cincinnati was able to get just enough out of him to go the distance, instead of having to depend on their bad bullpen. It was disappointing to see the Mets drop their second straight series opener on this home stand.
Paul Lo Duca has done a very good job for the Mets this season, but he had a bad game at the plate tonight. After laying down a nice sacrifice bunt to build the first run, and working Arroyo full in his second, he went swinging at the first pitch his last 2 at bats. In the fifth, with Chavez on second, he went fishing for the first pitch and popped up to end the inning. In the eighth, with Reyes on first and one out, he hit the first pitch into a 5-4-3 double play. This was extremely disappointing from a player who bats second because he works counts. Arroyo had 116 pitches for the games, and it could certainly be argued that better at bats in those two spots could have forced the Reds to go to their bullpen.
It was a team effort in offensive futility though. Reyes and Jose Valentin both had a pair of hits, Beltran drove in both runs, on a ground out and an impressive ninth inning solo homer, Wright had a single in the ninth to keep it alive. Maybe the team needs to wear their road uniforms and bat first to produce at Shea.
Thoughts on the game
I thought El Duque was better tonight than in his complete game against the Diamondbacks. It was a clinic in how to pitch similar to Pedro when he's got his normal control.
Pedro Feliciano came in with the gas can tonight. He's been doing so good, I guess he was due. Bradford finally allowed a couple of inherited runs to score, but still limited the damage coming in with bases loaded, no outs.
Trachsel tomorrow. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
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