Say what you want about the Mets, they know how to win on Opening Day. New York came into the day with a 32-18 record when playing its first game of the season. After Johan Santana and various bullpen pitchers shutout the Braves 1-0 this afternoon, the Mets can add one more win to that total, and more importantly, the season is off to a successful start.
The game got off to an emotional beginning, as the Mets honored the late Gary Carter and his family by unveiling a big “Kid 8” plate-shaped logo on the outfield wall. Although the number eight is not technically retired, I’m sure the Mets will strongly discourage its use in the future. Members of the Carter family were called upon to throw out the ceremonial first pitches, and after that it was time to play ball.
Perhaps the best part of the game for Mets fans was Johan Santana pitching like he did before he got hurt in 2010. Although his fastball only topped out in the high 80’s, Santana had great control over his change-up and slider, which allowed him shutdown Atlanta’s lineup.
Before he became a bit unraveled in the 5th, Santana was dominant for the first four innings with 4 Ks, no walks and just one hit allowed. The Mets ace opened the 5th with a strikeout of Freddie Freeman, but then his personal kryptonite Matt Diaz lashed a double to right-center field. Santana briefly recovered by getting Jason Heyward to fly out, but then in a bizarre sequence he walked both rookie shortstop Tyler Pastornicky and pitcher Tommy Hanson.
With the score still 0-0, Michael Bourn stepped up to the plate with a chance to blow the game open, but with the count full, Santana got the speedster to ground back to the mound. Mets fans took a deep breath, as a potentially disastrous inning passed by without a run scored.
Of course, the Mets were having their own issues scoring with the great Tommy Hanson on the mound. In the 1st, Daniel Murphy ripped a double to left, but was stranded at second base. New York would not threaten again until the 5th. With two on and two out, Mike Baxter pinch-hit for the now rattled Santana, but the native New Yorker was caught looking by Hanson.
Finally in the 6th, the Mets broke through. Andres Torres drew a lead-off walk and Murphy ripped a single to right to put runners on the corners. Wright followed with a single of his own to chase Hanson from the game and give New York a 1-0 lead. Although Kris Medlen would come out of the pen and keep the Mets from scoring any more runs, the Mets would be just fine with the one run.
Thanks to Baxter replacing Santana in the 5th, the New York bullpen had to go four innings today, and they pitched brilliantly. Ramon Ramirez got in trouble in the 7th when Pastronicky hit a one-out triple, but Tim Byrdak came in and struck out both Jose Constanza and Michael Bourn to bail him out.
The real damage done by the triple was that Andres Torres strained his left calf on the play and is now headed to the DL. Early speculation is that either Vinny Rottino or Kirk Nieuwenhuis will be called up to replace him, with Ruben Tejada moving up to the lead-off spot in the batting order. Scott Hairston played the rest of today’s game in center field and hit a single in his only at-bat.
After Byrdak escaped the 7th, Jon Rauch and Frank Francisco each pitched a perfect frame to finish the game.
Wow, what a thrilling win on Opening Day. Losing Torres this early hurts, but there was never a guarantee that he would regain his excellent 2010 form. The Mets are lucky to have a guy like Hairston who can play all the outfield positions and provide a little pop as well. Murphy, Wright and Josh Thole each had two hits for the Mets, with Murphy hitting the only extra-base knock.
The Metsies return to action on Saturday afternoon at 1:10 PM versus these same Braves. R.A. Dickey and Jair Jurrjens are your probably starters.
