These are the biggest sets of brooms of the year; those in-division sweeps. The Mets completed their second of the 2012 season by knocking off the Miami Marlins today in the final game of a three game set at Citi Field, a series in which Ozzie Guillen literally could not make any right moves with his bullpen.
What was more impressive in this game and how it finished was the comparison between lineups. The Mets fielded a 100% homegrown lineup today for the first time since the early 70s. The Marlins fielded a lineup that was comprised of many big name signings, past trades and money moves.
The homegrown Mets prevailed today in a 3-2 ninth inning victory.
The Mets really toughed it out today against the Marlins, especially when you look at the patience at the heart of the order during the ninth inning, working ex-Met Heath Bell into throwing 47 pitches, squandering several 0-2 counts. Revenge probably tastes pretty sweet as the Mets finally deliver some serious payback for Bell’s harsh words of the organization.
In the no-decision, Jon Niese once again tossed some phenomenal innings in another quality start. Niese went seven innings of four hit ball, surrendering just two runs, one being a solo home run by Gaby Sanchez. Ramon Ramirez followed things up with two shutout innings in relief for the victory, improving to 2-1 on the season. His ERA drops to 4.22.
Essentially all of the noise made by the Mets today came in the ninth inning. The Mets squeezed a ridiculous four walks out of Miami’s big money closer Heath Bell. Bell falls to 0-3, blowing his third save of the season.
The last pitcher to throw 47 pitches to blow a save was Danys Baez, ten years ago, thanks WFAN.
Justin Turner was credited with an RBI on a pinch hit appearance in the ninth in which he walked in the tying run, on one of the best at-bats you will ever see. Turner backed Heath Bell into a corner forcing him to throw 13 pitches, plenty of which were fouled. Turner’s patience set the tone with the bases loaded.
Ultimately with the bases loaded, “Captain” Kirk Nieuwenhuis delivered the game winning run on a single that sailed over Giancarlo Stanton’s head.
Nieuwenhuis collects the Mets first triple of the year, and their first bases loaded hit as well. As the leadoff man, Nieuwenhuis hit three of the Mets six hits, and its safe to say that he has all but cemented himself into this lineup for the year. Captain Kirk, through 17 games, is hitting .333. If he stays healthy and stays mature, at this rate the Mets have a viable Rookie of the Year candidate on their hands.
With the sweep, the Mets bounce back comfortable from an awkward stretch against the Braves, Phillies, and Giants. The Mets push the Marlins further into the early season NL East cellar as they fall to 7-11 as the Mets regain some confidence, improving to 11-8 while riding a shiny new three game win streak.
The Rocky Mountain confines of Coors Field await the Mets as they will look to bring this new momentum west with them. It’ll be a battle of young pitchers tomorrow night in Colorado as highly touted Drew Pomeranz, one of the Rox main acquisitions in the Ubaldo Jimenez deal, will face Chris Schwinden, a temporary replacement for Mike Pelfrey.
That game is slated for 8:40 ET tomorrow, and catch my preview in the afternoon and read why the Mets should prepared for anything against Pomeranz.
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