In a word: AWESOME!
Jon Niese, the kid from Defiance Ohio, pitched a nearly perfect game, leading the Mets to a 3-0 nightcap victory.
After playing poorly in game one of the day-night double header, where Johan Santana was unable to hold on to an early 2-0 lead courtesy of a Henry Blanco HR, the Mets rebounded nicely in game two.
The Mets lost the opening game, 4-2, when Johan Santana, finally staked to a lead, was unable to hold the lead. Santana was off, walking four and only striking out one in 6.2 IP. The Mets could only muster two hits before being retired 23 straight times to end the game. Quite disappointing.
Then came game two, where the young Mr. Niese was spot on all night. Other than surrendering a third inning double to Chris Denorfia, Niese was perfect. No other batter reached first base.
The Mets jumped on the Jon Garland, the Padres game 2 starter, early, staking Niese to a 3-0 lead in the first three innings. That was more than enough for Niese, who pitched the Mets first complete game victory, striking out six and walking no one.
Considering that Ruben Tejada hit into an improbable 5-4-3 double play, the Mets were totally unaffected by the rare 5-4-3 DP. The Mets had 8 hits and fielded flawlessly and looked like world beaters.
After such a lack-luster disappointing loss in game one, game two proved to be a wonderful turn around, and the type of game any team would look to as a nice ending to a home stand, before beginning a nine game AL road trip.
With the Mets DH split, they now sit tied for second with the Phillies, 2.5 behind Atlanta.
The Mets now need to take this warm and fuzzy feeling on the road, and would be nice to take 4 of 6 against Baltimore and Cleveland, before ending the road trip against the Yankees at the Stadium.
The Mets will face Jeremy Guthrie and the Baltimore Orioles tonight. Going for the Mets will be RA Dickey. The Mets should be able to take at least two games from the hapless Orioles.
Source: CBS Sportsline
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