Game 2: Florida Marlins 7 @ New York Mets 6 (10 Innings)
In many ways, last night’s loss to the Florida Marlins showed why the New York Mets only won 70 games last season. Despite the Marlins doing all they could to hand this game over to the Mets, and despite a generous balk call from the third-base umpire, the boys from Queens were unable to capitalize, falling 7-6 in extra innings.
The Marlins pitching, particularly the bullpen, was dreadful in the seventh through ninth innings. Four Marlins pitchers combined to walk eight Met hitters and hit another. That was how the Mets were able to rally from five runs down despite notching only three hits. The Mets also benefitted from shaky defense from the Marlins, who were only charged for one error but made many questionable plays. And then, there was nothing more questionable than the walk that allowed the game-tying run to come in.
Yet, even with all that help, the Mets lost, stranding two runners in the bottom of the ninth, and then blowing it in the top of the tenth.
Another bad sign was the continued struggles of John Maine. After a difficult 2009 season, Maine gave up four runs on eight hits, including two home runs. He lasted just five innings for the Mets. Not a very good performance from a #2 starter.
excellent reporting
concise
to the point