Marty Noble, of www.mlb.com, reports that for most of eight innings, it wasn't so much a game as it was an overmatch, nine against one. And the one was very much in control.
If Mike Pelfrey needed a strikeout, he struck out whoever happened to be in the batter's box. If the circumstances called for a double play, he threw that heavy two-seam fastball that the Mets like to call "the bowling ball," and a double play happened -- three times in the first five innings. And if a routine ground ball was required, a 4-3, 5-3, 6-3 or some variation of that theme occurred.
But in the eighth inning, the baritones took over, and Mets versus Rockies became a game of chants.
"Pel-frey ... Pel-frey ... Pel-frey."
Dan Warthen, the new pitching coach, had visited Pelfrey with Scott Posednik batting, two runners on base and two out. The Mets' ninth straight victory hardly was imperiled. They led, 7-0, the eventual final score. But many among the 51,293 Shea Stadium patrons worried that Warthen intended to remove Pelfrey, and they expressed their disapproval by chanting the pitcher's name in typical Shea cadence.
"That really sounded cool," Pelfrey said. "All those people. It made the whole night really cool."
Pelfrey made the night, period. Even with the Mets extending their extraordinary run to nine victories, even with the Carlos Brothers hitting home runs and the bullpen extended its scoreless streak, this night belonged to Pelfrey. As hot as the Mets are, and they are steaming, Pelfrey has 'em by a few degrees. As abrupt as their reversal has been, his has been more dramatic.
Pelfrey completed eight innings, having surrendered six hits.
For the second time in his career, the first time was in his previous start on Tuesday against the Phillies, he allowed no walks.
He hit a batter, struck out five, won for the sixth time in six starts and impressed everyone from Rockies manager Clint Hurdle to Mr. Juggs Gun, "Back to that game he pitched against us last year, early in the year -- might have been in April, this guy has come as far as any guy I have seen in a year's time, a little bit over a year," Hurdle said. "[His] command has improved, movement, life, he makes pitches. He can start dropping some slow curve balls along with a slider, getting the ball arm side, keeping it glove side, keeping it down.”
Juggs Gun's comments were more concise and emphatic -- 95 mph and on the 114th of his 119 pitches.
"He threw great," Billy Wagner said. "Someday, in a couple of years, he'll know more and be out there with everything working and he'll strike out 17. I won't be shocked. He has that kind of stuff."
Pelfrey was so good, Manuel said he "strongly considered" having Pelfrey start the ninth inning.
"Sooner or later, we're going to have to challenge him in that way," the manager said.
Pelfrey's reversal hasn't been as surprising as it has been comprehensive. He's even hitting. He has a hit in each of his last three starts (six at-bats) after producing three hits in his first 56 career at-bats. His pitching is what matters most, of course.
Now he, Johan Santana and John Maine have won eight games each.
Pelfrey has started four of the team's six shutouts.
His eight innings on Sunday extended his scoreless innings streak, it spans three starts, to 16.
He has allowed one run in his three most recent starts (22 innings).
"Before this season's over," Manuel said, "he's got a chance to leapfrog over some people on our staff."
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