Thursday, August 7, 2008By Mike Steffanos
Game 113: Padres 4 - Mets 2 (Wednesday)
Game 114: Mets 5 - Padres 3 (Thursday)
In a season where nothing comes easy, the last two games of the Padres series were representative of what we've seen the last four months. The Mets pitching staff continues to give up home runs at an uncanny rate, and the Mets offense struggles to get the key hits.
In fairness to Pedro Martinez, I have to admit that everything that happened after he allowed homers to two of the first three batters looked as impressive as we've seen from him this year. Still, those were the 12th and 13th home runs allowed by Pedro in 56 innings this season. Nine of those have come in his last 25-2/3 innings of work. Five in his last two starts against the Astros and Padres.
To put this in perspective, in 1999 while pitching for the Red Sox, Martinez allowed only 6 homers in 213 innings pitched -- and this was pitching half the time in Fenway Park. In his first year with the Mets, Pedro allowed 19 home runs in 217 innings. It just seems wrong to see them tee off against him so often.
Then again, this is a pitching staff that specializes in giving up the long ball, as Johan Santana learned to his dismay as another lead went up in smoke while Scott Schoeneweis was giving up a monster blast in the ninth. Then again, Santana allowed one himself to push his season total to 19 allowed. As a staff, the Mets have allowed 122 on the season despite pitching home games in big Shea. The Phillies staff has allowed two less in their bandbox.
Some good things happened these last couple of days, though. Besides actually coming out of today with a win, youngsters Dan Murphy and Nick Evans have looked good. Beltran had 3 hits today. They're only two games out of first despite everything.
View Pedro Martinez' Full Season Stats
View Johan Santana's Full Season Stats
Game 113 Box Score
Game 114 Box Score
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