Mets Salvage Final Game of Rockies Series
The Mets salvaged the final game of their four game series with the Rockies behind another strong performance by Dillon Gee, who threw six scoreless innings en route to a 5-1 win over the hot-hitting Rockies.
Juan Lagares, getting the start because Eric Young was hit in the eye by a ricocheted ball in the batting cage before the game, led off the game with a single. Daniel Murphy followed with a single of his own. With one out Curtis Granderson singled to score Lagares to give the Mets an early 1-0 lead. Murphy went to third. Chris Young flew out to shallow left, not deep enough for Murphy to tag up. But Murphy got caught off third when the ball was cut off and was tagged out to end the inning. Murphy has really been clueless on the base paths lately.
Murphy walked with one out in the third and scored when David Wright slammed a double off the wall in left. Curtis Granderson walked and then Chris Young doubled to plate Wright to make it 3-0. Lucas Duda was intentionally walked to load the bases, but Travis d’Arnaud grounded into an inning-ending double play.
The Mets added another run in the fourth when two out doubles by Lagares and Murphy made it 4-0.
Duda doubled in the top of the seventh to drive in Chris Young to make it 5-0.
Gee threw 105 pitches through six innings, but Terry Collins allowed him to pitch the seventh. He allowed back-to-back singles to start the inning and then Collins pulled him. Carlos Torres came in with runners on first and second with no outs. A ground out put runners on second and third. He struck out Drew Stubbs for the second out. Scott Rice was brought in to face lefty Charlie Blackmon. He popped up to center to keep the Rockies off the board.
So Gee went six innings, allowing no runs on six hits. He struck out five and walked one. His ERA dipped to 2.51.
Jeurys Familia pitched the final two innings, allowing a ninth inning home run to Justin Morneau as the Mets win 5-1.
Why does Collins let him pitch the 7th?
Isn’t this 2014? Hadn’t he already thrown over 100 pitches?
By the way, I’m reading a book about the baseball players who fought in WW II. listen to this: Bob Feller is on a ship near Japan when the surrender occurs in summer, 1945. Nine days later he’s in Cleveland, on the mound, strikes out twelve and gives up four hits. He hadn’t pitched professionally since 1941 when he volunteered for the Navy. (No greater Love, Todd Anton, 2007)
Compared to today, is that amazing or what? No spring training, no minor league games, nine days from ship to mound… .and he strikes out twelve! P.S. He certainly died with an intact UCL and never heard of Tommy John surgery.
Either those guys were made of different stuff or ???