J.P. here, wrapping up today's game and the homestand. CF Carlos Beltran wasn't the only Met troubled by a stomach virus today. Beltran sat out, but John Maine started and threw six scoreless innings before vomiting after the top of the sixth. He went to the mound for the seventh, but went no further. With the Mets boarding a plane for Pittsburgh after the game, it's fair to wonder whether the pressurized cabin and the non-circulating air could result in that virus spreading. We'll all know more tomorrow.
Jerry Manuel said after the game he didn't think OF Angel Pagan's groin injury was a 'day-to-day deal' and I think he's right. He was hobbling after pulling up, and a DL stint could be awaiting, although nothing is confirmed at this point. Too bad, because he was playing well, hitting .333 since coming back.
Couple of interesting moves by Manuel in the bottom of the seventh and the top of the eighth. With a runner on first and nobody out, he had No. 5 hitter Daniel Murphy sacrifice because he didn't like the way Murphy has been swinging the bat. Murphy got the bunt down and newbie Fernando Martinez followed with an RBI double, so it worked out well.
And in the eighth, when J.J. Putz allowed three of the first four hitters he faced to reach base, Manuel went to Bobby Parnell. Parnell allowed one inherited runner to score but got out of the mess with a one-run lead. This bears watching, as Manuel obviously likes Parnell's work and Parnell certainly would be a candidate to work the eighth if Putz falters.
Nice touch by the Mets with the ceremonial first pitch today, thrown by a Queens high school lefty, Jordan Wiener, whose father, Mitchell, died tragically from swine flu. Jordan, who threw a five-inning no-hitter in the PSAL playoffs the day after his dad's funeral, fired a fastball strike for the first pitch.
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