Game 99: Mets vs. Dodgers @ Dodger Stadium
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by Dayala718
El Duque heads to the mound looking for a good performance in successive starts and a series win for the Mets.
The Good: The Mets came back twice. The first time from 2-0 on a Lastings Milledge double to left that scored Jose Reyes, which was followed by a David Wright bloop to left to score Milledge. The second time, they trailed 4-2 after a Nomar Garciaparra homer, who seems to find his power stroke against the Mets. In the eighth inning, Beltran would drive Reyes in on a sac fly to right to pull the Mets within three. Then, in the ninth inning, the Mets really got rollin'. Carlos Delgado would single to first and Anderson Hernandez would come on as a pinch runner to promptly take second on a wild pitch. He would then move over to third on Paul Lo Duca's ground out. Then, Shawn Green would hit a fly ball to right that resulted in an error by Matt Kemp, allowing Hernandez to score the tying run. Green would take second and advance to third on another wild pitch. Ruben Gotay and Ramon Castro would then fail to get Green in but the game would head to extra innings. In the top of the tenth, Milledge and Beltran would single with one out and Milledge would move up a base on David Wright's fielder's choice. Wright hustled and barely beat out an inning-ending double play. Soon after, recently called up Chip Ambres would step into the box for his first key at-bat with the Mets and would deliver a clutch single past the outstretched glove of Nomar Garciaparra. The hit would be his first rbi of the season and would put the Mets up for good. Billy Wagner would come on in the ninth and make things interesting, as well. After walking Juan Pierre and allowing him to steal second, Wagner struck out Russell Martin, intentionally walked Jeff Kent (to the surprise of many), struck out Matt Kemp, threw a wild pitch, and struck out Nomar Garciaparra on a 3-2 outside corner slider.
The Bad: After tying the game the first time, El Duque hung one to free-swinging Nomar Garciaparra to give the lead right back. How many times before the Mets learn?
Overall: Big win.
Notes: Jose Reyes hit his tenth triple of the season and Wright stole his 22nd base. The Mets head back to Shea with a winning record on the road trip and push their record to over .500 on the road.
2 Cents: The Mets showed great heart by coming back all day and working hard for the clutch hit. Lastings Milledge played well and Wright's hustle will go unseen in the box score, but it arguably won the Mets the game. The bullpen was also great. Congrats to Chip Ambres on the big hit.
Final Score: Mets 5, Dodgers 4. Record: 55-43.
