Jenrry Mejia Brilliant, Mets Blank Cardinals
I don’t know what’s Spanish for “blister shmister,” but whatever it is, that’s what Jenrry Mejia was probably saying Monday night. In his first start since a blister forced him from a game last week, Mejia was brilliant Monday night as the Mets shut out the Cardinals.
The Mets got on the board with a two-out rally in the third. Eric Young singled and Curtis Granderson got hit by a pitch. David Wright then hit a broken bat single through the left side of the infield to score Young to make it 1-0.
Chris Young took the Mets out of a possible big sixth inning. After reaching on a throwing error by pitcher Tyler Lyons, Daniel Murphy walked to put runners on first and second. A pitch in the dirt by Lyons bounced just a few feet from Yadier Molina. Chris Young hesitated and then took off. Molina easily nailed him at third for the first out. Lyons walked Josh Satin to again put runners on first and second. Murphy then stole third, a poor decision. He was lucky to be safe; the throw beat him but Matt Carpenter was late on the tag. Travis d’Arnaud lined a single to center to score Murphy to make it 2-0. Ruben Tejada launched a broken bat single just over the head of the second baseman to load the bases. Jenrry Mejia hit a fly to short left, not deep enough for the slow-footed Satin to score. Eric Young flew out to center to end the inning. Five baserunners, one run — not a good ratio.
Mejia faltered a bit in the seventh. After getting the first two outs, he walked the next two batters and Scott Rice was called upon to rescue him. He got Shane Robinson to ground out.
So Jenrry Mejia went 6.2 scoreless innings, allowing four hits and three walks with seven strikeouts. He is now 3-0 with a 1.99 ERA. That’s Matt Harvey-like!
Kyle Farnsworth came on for the ninth and picked up his first save as the Mets closer.
Mets win 2-0 despite those hideous uniforms.
Mark,
Are you comfortable with Farnsworth in the closer role? I’m a little more inclined towards Dice K. I think Dice can be effective in that role.
Is Jose Valverde the second coming of Armando Benitez? However, the fact is that Benitez was better. How’s that for a comparison?
No, JJ, I am not particularly comfortable with Farnsworth. We should not forget that this was a guy the Mets released at the end of Spring Training and could not find a job elsewhere, so he came back. Just like Valverde before him, right now he is the best option to close. But when he begins to falter, which he will, the Mets will have to choose someone else. Dice-K is as good a choice as anyone.
Fortunately the Mets pulled Valverde as the closer before he got a chance to be the second coming of Benitez. Besides, Frank Francisco was already that second coming!