The Mets dropped the first game of the Subway Series 2-1 despite getting a big performance by Hisanori Takahashi who made his first start of his career in place of the injured Jon Nies.
Takahashi pitched six strong innings, but when he came out in the seventh the Yankees took advantage of an Alex Cora throwing error with a two-RBI double from rookie Kevin Russo that put them ahead for good.
The Mets did briefly mount a comeback in the ninth inning against Mariano Rivera. With two outs the Mets got a double from Jason Bay and then an Ike Davis double scored their first run. The stage was set for David Wright, but Rivera induced a groundball and the game was over.
Notes
• Jose Reyes went 0-for-4. His average is down to .211.
• Alex Cora went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks.
• Jason Bay went 1-for-4 with a run scored.
• Ike Davis went 1-for-4 with an RBI.
• David Wright went 0-for-4. His average is down to .255.
• Angel Pagan went 1-for-3.
• Rod Barajas went 0-for-3.
• Jeff Francoeur went 0-for-3. His average is down to .221.
• Hisanori Takahashi’s line: 6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 HR.
• Elmer Dessens (0.2 IP), Oliver Perez (0.1 IP), Fernando Nieve (0 IP), Pedro Feliciano (1 IP), and Manny Acosta (1 IP) combined for this line: 3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 0 HR.
Thoughts
• With the rotation in shambles the Mets still got a great start out of Takahashi but failed to take advantage of it. The bullpen didn’t even pitch poorly and might have escaped the seventh without Cora’s error.
• In Takahashi’s last appearance he threw 60 pitches, last night he threw 100. He should be fine, but that is a big step for a pitcher. The Mets might want to fire Jerry Manuel just to save the pitching staff from being completely blown out.
• Speaking of blown out pitchers, Fernando Nieve and Pedro Feliciano both had their major league leading 25th appearances last night. Takahashi and Raul Valdes both have few appearances, but both are in the top eight in innings pitched by relievers (last night’s start not counted for Takahashi).
• Ike Davis looked like he had no fear at all against Rivera in the ninth. This kid is exciting to watch and is on track to dethrone David Wright as the face of this franchise.
Quote
“We flinched, made one mistake and it cost us two runs,” Manuel said .
Line of the Day
Hisanori Takahashi’s line: 6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 HR. It has to be Takahashi. If he can step into the rotation and pitch with consistency then that is going to be huge for the Mets this year. I’m already looking forward to his next start.
Up Next
Can it get better than these next two matchups? Not only is it the Subway Series, but we get a battle of the young phenom pitchers tonight and a battle of the aces tomorrow. Wow.
Saturday, May 22: RHP Phil Hughes (5-0, 2.25) vs. RHP Mike Pelfrey (5-1, 3.02)
Sunday, May 23: LHP C.C. Sabathia (4.2, 3.43) vs. LHP Johan Santana (3-2, 3.72)
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