Even when the Mets’ bats finally wake up, they still lose. This afternoon against the Cubs, the team scored six runs, something they hadn’t done since August 24, but still could not earn the victory.
The Mets jumped out to an early lead with a David Wright two RBI double in the top of the first off Randy Wells. They added another run on a botched double play off the bat of Joaquin Arias to take a 3-0 lead.
R.A. Dickey looked like his stellar self through the first three innings, allowing only one hit. However, with two outs in the fourth and a run already home, Alfonso Soriano crushed a 3-run homer to left to give the Cubbies the lead.
The Mets would fight back to tie the game in the top of sixth when recent call-up Lucas Duda notched his first major league hit and RBI with a double down the line in right. Although Duda had been 0-for-10 before his hit, Jerry Manuel had been raving about his performance in batting practice the last few days. Duda’s hard work finally paid off.
Though Duda’s RBI tied the game, Dickey uncharacteristically could not protect the lead. Once again with two outs but this time in the sixth inning, Dickey allowed a 3-run bomb to Blake DeWitt to give the Cubs a 7-4 lead. The wind had been blowing out fiercely to right field all day, and DeWitt used that to his advantage.
Over the next two innings, the Mets mounted a comeback with solo homers from David Wright (his 23rd of the year) and Luis Hernandez (his first home run since 9/27/2007) to cut the Cubs lead to one run.
However, the Mets could only muster a two-out walk in the ninth against the erratic Carlos Marmol, who picked up his 26th save in the Cubs’ win.
It was great to see Duda get his first hit in a clutch situation. He had been robbed a few times this last week, but now he has a moment he will never forget.
Wright and Angel Pagan each had three hits which was also a good sign, especially for Pagan who had sat out the last few games with a wrist injury.
As for Dickey, the two “two-out” 3-run homers did him in today. He falls to 9-6 on the season. Though the Mets provided Dickey with some runs for a change, his knuckleball did not fool Soriano or DeWitt.
Good luck to Jenrry Mejia, who makes his first major league start tomorrow.
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