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MLB 4/19 1st Half

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golfer4life8
Posts: 662
Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2007 2:38 am
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MLB 4/19 1st Half

Post by golfer4life8 »

NYM/Atlanta over 5 -115:
Thanks to a 9 run 8th inning, the NL East first place Mets (13-4) came back from a 2 run deficit to blow the game open with a 11-5 win over Washington. The Mets avoided a sweep from the Nationals and tied the game at 4 when Todd Frazier notched a 2 run single followed by a Juan Lagares pinch hit 2 run double which gave NY the lead for good. Yoenis Cespedes capped the scoring with a 2 for 5 night with 2 runs scored and 4 driven in including a grand slam. Steven Matz lasted just 4 innings allowing 3 runs on 3 hits with a walk and 6 strikeouts. AJ Ramos picked up the win for his first in relief. Ryan Madson took the loss in relief wasting a sparkling performance by Tanner Roark who surrendered just 2 runs on 2 hits over 7 innings walking 3 and striking out 6. Madson recorded only 2 outs and gave up 6 runs on 5 hits. Ryan Zimmerman provided all of the Nationals offense going 3 for 4 with 3 runs scored off of 2 homers. The Mets head south for a 4 game series to face the Atlanta Braves (10-7) who took 2 of 3 from Philadelphia with a 7-3 victory last night at SunTrust Park. Ryan Flaherty homered and drove in four runs,Dansby Swanson went 2 for 3 with 2 runs scores, and Brandon McCarthy improved to 3-0 yielding only one run on 5 hits through 5 1/3. Vince Velasquez fell to 1-2 despite a decent outing allowing 3 runs on 7 hits through 6 innings, walking just one while striking out 7.

Atlanta sends Lucas Sims to the hill this evening recently called up from AAA Gwinnett. The 23 year old soph was initially thought to be used as a long reliever, but has primarily in his short career was used as a starter last season when he was 3-6 with a 5.62 ERA in 10 starts. He faces a Mets lineup batting just .242 thus far on the young season averaging about 5 runs per contest clubbing 17 HR thus far. A team that last season relied in the long ball, Mickey Callaway has instituted small ball back into this franchise, and the early results combined with solid starting pitching is certainly paying dividends. Asdrubal Cabrera (.343 4 8) is sixth in the NL in batting and has 6 hits in his last 13 at bats (.462). Frazier (.291 2 13) is finally learning how to hit his weight and understanding that he doesn't have to swing for the fences on a full time basis. Seems like throughout his career it's feat or famine, HR or strikeout. The third baseman has nearly as many walks (15) as strikeouts (17) early on. Cespedes (.217 4 17) is off to a slow start but does lead the team in RBI and tied for second in the NL with Maikel Franco. The seldomly used Lagares (.407) has certainly made the most of his opportunities thus far. Michael Conforto (.250 1 4) has missed the last few games and looks to come out of a sudden funk where he's just 4 for his last 24 (.167).

The Mets counter with Matt Harvey (0-1 4.80) who has endured some tough luck early on despite pitching well enough for his team to win. He did get hit pretty hard his last outing despite lasting 5 innings in a 4-1 loss to Milwaukee where he allowed 4 runs on 8 hits walking one and striking out 6. Harvey faces a Braves lineup collectively hitting .265 overall with 18 HR and averaging 5.4 runs per game. Flahtery (.365 1 7) leads the NL in batting with his teammate Swanson (.358 2 11) right behind him. Ozzie Albies (.307 5 11) leads the club in HR and put up some quality numbers as a part-time player last season. Albies has hit safely in 6 of his last 7 (.419) and has played an efficient second base early on. Nick Markakis (.279 2 9) is still producing nicely entering his 14th season. Freddie Freeman (.288 2 12) left the game last night after being hit by a pitch in the 8th inning, rekindling a similar bad memory from last season where he missed 44 games last season because of a fractured wrist. Preston TUcker (.271 3 13) leads Atlanta in RBI but is currently mired in a 3 for 18 slump (.167).

We get a decent price this evening at a venue which has proved to be much more generous to the hitter than the days of Turner Field. Truth be told that both ballclubs enter this evening's wrap-around series with balanced lineups and offense, with bright futures ahead in a season that only just passed the 1/10th mark. While Sims is versatile in long relief, he could earn a more prominent spot with a quality start this evening, though this Mets offense will be sure to heat up as the season progresses. Harvey has been just a shell of himself over the past few years compared to his peak in 2013, and his status in the starting rotation could be in jeopardy soon. We're hoping for some early offense here on both sides, as either pitcher could significantly benefit from a solid outing.
Last edited by golfer4life8 on Thu Apr 19, 2018 6:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.




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