9

September 13th, 2008
(Game 2)
Braves- 0
Mets- 5



We've come down to single digits! It seems like a long, but in other aspects, short time since I saw the countdown number at 81. Now it's at 9!!

Check it out.



They should've had Todd Hundley put the number down to 9.

Well the first game was a tough one. But the fellas and I took advantage of a packed stadium becoming empty, as lots of fans left before the first pitch of game 2. So we moved down to loge. These seats were great. Gotta love double headers. The seat was similar to the one I had Wednesday.




We needed to cheer up a bit, so rather than shelling 8 bucks for a one dollar beer, Matt and I went old school and bought some Carvel ice cream with sprinkles. I got full rather quickly. But for some brief moments, we were kids again, having ice cream for dinner. It took our minds off the hideous bullpen.

Jon Niese was going game two and I was nervous about it but sort of excited at the same time. I saw this guy pitch all the way back in March 1st when my father and I made the dream trip to spring training. He looked dominant and we were raving about his stuff. My father predicted he'd be an ace what day. I was pumped when they called him up to pitch against the Brewers but he looked so nervous. It was actually reassuring to see a professional ballplayer get as nervous as much as I usually do.

We needed this game bad. It was a must win and it's always dicey when you put a guy that has only one major league start under his belt, in there and tell him he needs to come out with a win. He's never done it. It's very similar to last season when the Mets put Philip Humber in there last September against the Nats. He didn't pitch well that game. Niese didn't pitch welll his first start as well so history was not really on our side.

But here we go! First inning is key for these rookies. Niese gave up a home run in just his 2nd pitch last start, so a quick 1st inning was important for his confidence. And he got it. Despite giving up a two out double to Johnson, he gets out of it unscathed.

With Jojo Reyes pitching, the Mets had to do damage against this subpar pitcher early to give Niese some breathing room. And they did just that. After a Church single, Wright hits a towering home run to right field. 2-0. They didn't stop there. Beltran would hit a single and steal a base and Superman Tatis drives him in with a sing. 3-0.

Then in the 2nd, Reyes gave Niese even more run support with a two out solo shot. Always nice to see Reyes go deep. 4-0

Niese was magnificent. He only needed 1 run it turned out. He even out pitched Johan. He went 8 very strong innings (another example of Manuel not trying to fix something that doesn't need fixing) struck out 7 and only gave up 6 hits. Great job Niese!
Here's video of his last out of the night.




I understand Chipper and Mccann were out of the lineup but he proved that he could beat the bad team easily. And that's something the Mets are going to need to do to make the post season. The Mets added insurance in the 7th with a Carlos Beltran solo home runs (lots of dingers tonight) 5-0 and it stayed like that.

Ayala came in, gave up two hits but got Franceour to ground into a double play. FINALLY! An easy victory that doesn't require Tums, a drink or prozak. Awesome. We needed it and the fact it was a breather made it even sweeter.

But we couldn't help but wish we had swept the DH. We really should've! Oh well. What's done is done. Sunday is a new day and winning the series is imperative to have a successful home stand.




My Shea Memories: In tribute to David Wright's home run, I take you to 2004, David Wright's first ever game as a Met. Yes, I had the good fortunate of attending that one. I saved the stub but have no idea where it was. It was against the Expos and I should remember a lot more about the game than I do but I don't. I remember having tickets with my ex in advance so it was just perfect timing when they called him up. Never in a million years could I imagine Wright would become the poster boy for the Mets and the bona-fide star New Yorkers love. He got a hit or two if memory serves me WRIGHT. Ha get it? No? It's great to have gone to that one, for it was the beginning of an era. An era of winning. An era that even now, has just begun. Thank you David, for helping a 70 win team be a contender since then. And all I told my ex was, watch out for this kid. He could be pretty good. Understatement of the century!



Off to game 8 in a few. Magic number down to lucky 13 btw.

A couple more images from 9...