Lowly Rockies Beat Mets
R.A. Dickey is trying to keep pace with the rest of the top pitchers in the National League in his quest to win 20 games and possibly the Cy Young award — the only thing left for Mets fans to root for in this sinking season. Dickey did his part Monday night against the lowly Rockies, but the Mets offense did not get the job done and Dickey got a no decision, and the Mets would go on to lose.
The Mets jumped out to an early 1-0 lead. David Wright doubled with two outs in the first. Ike Davis walked and Daniel Murphy singled to left to score Wright.
The Rockies tied the score in the fifth when Tyler Colvin hit a solo home run.
Dickey was lifted for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the seventh with the score tied at one, allowing the one run on just three hits. He struck out six and walked two. His record remains at 15-4, one win off the pace, but he lowered his ERA to 2.82, good for fourth in the league. He still leads in strikeouts, with 181.
The bullpen promptly gave the Rockies the lead, and in embarrassing fashion. Jonathan Herrera led off the eighth against Josh Edgin with a bunt single. Edgin tried to flip the ball to first with his glove and it got past Davis — Herrera went to second on the error by Edgin. Nelson bunted Herrera over to third; Edgin might have had a play on Herrera but he was slow to get off the mound to field the ball and went to first. Kelly Shoppach then allowed a passed ball that scored Herrera to make it 2-1.
The Mets threatened in the eighth. With one out Mike Baxter doubled to short right. Wright was intentionally walked. Davis struck out for the second out, but Daniel Murphy walked to load the bases. Jordany Valdespin came on to pinch hit, hitting a sharp grounder to first. The first baseman tossed the ball to the pitcher. Valdespin chose to slide head-first into the base and the pitcher just beat him there. It was an extremely close play, but replays showed the pitcher’s foot beat Valdespin’s hand to the bag by a fraction of a second.
In the ninth, Jon Rauch allowed his first run since July 26 to make it a 3-1 game.
And that’s how it would end. The Phillies won Monday, so they are now tied with the Mets for third place in the NL East.