The Mets have to put yesterday's tough loss behind them as they still have a chance to take the series with a win in the Sunday afternoon game against the Phils. The important thing for the Mets to remember is that they did fight back, and they played well in the latter half of the game in a game that was pretty entertaining to watch. The Mets will be sending Maine who has not been spectacular this year and he is going to do battle with Joe Blanton.
Maine is 1-2 on the season with a 5.40 ERA over 21.2 IP, 12 BB and 15 K. Last season he was 1-0 against the Phils with a 3.38 ERA over 3 games and 18.2 IP. In 2007 he was 1-0 over the same amount of games, 19.2 IP and had a 2.29 ERA against the Phillies. Now as we saw yesterday, success won't trasnlate automatically into a good performance, but you have to feel that Maine is confident about this game. Here are some stats the Phillies have against Maine:
Utley 7-22, 2 2B, HR
Howard 5-23, 2 HR
Rollins 4-25, 3 2B
Victorino 6-19
Dobbs 0-5
Ibanez 0-3
If the Mets can keep the Phillies from late combacks then they can put away this series. In the first game they were able to keep them down. Yesterday they weren't. In other words, if Maine can go deep in the game, he can really help out this bullpen that basically pitched an entire game yesterday.
To get the Mets will need to score some rums. They will have to face Blanton who is 0-2 on the season with a 8.41 ERA over 4 games with 20.1 IP and 19 ER. Last year he faced the Mets once and allowed 8 hits and 5 ER over 6 IP. The Mets will need to score often on Blanton and not allow him to get into the groove. Here are some Mets stats against Blanton:
Castillo 7-14
Reyes 0-9
Sheff 3-9, 2B, HR
Wright 2-8, 2B
Castro 2-3
One of the best things the Mets were able to do yesterday was hit two homers. Why? Well first of all it was some power that seem not to see often from this team but more importantly, nothing stops momentum like a couple of solo shots (look at the Raul Ibanez response which did the same thing to the Mets). Lets Go Mets! Take This Series!
