Only the Astros could allow three hits and still lose. Pelfrey "dominates" the Astros (according to ESPN), and the Mets win 2-1.
*Nelson Figueroa pitched a pretty good game, but he was his own undoing, making a throwing error that allowed Luis Castillo to reach second base. Beltran walked, and David Wright hit a sac fly that led to Castillo scoring from second (thanks, Anderson Hernandez).
*Figueroa also threw a wild pitch and hit Jeff Francoeur. And the 4th inning sucked, too, with Figueroa giving up three walks (walking in Ike Davis) and a hit for the second run.
*Still, Figueroa threw 7IP and allowed one earned run (though I'm with McTaggart. If the pitcher makes an error that leads to a run, that should be earned, too.). This is his third start of the year (and in a row), throwing 5IP against the Mets on Aug 17, and 6IP against the Marlins on Aug 22. It's his longest start since throwing a complete game shutout against, yes, the Astros in the season-closer on October 4, 2009.
*Mark Melancon has been a nice pickup, throwing a perfect 8th and giving Lyon another day off. Good job by the pitching staff to go deep in this game and spell the bullpen.
*The Mets only got three hits. That's the fewest number of hits for the Mets in a win since May 6, 2009, when the Mets beat the Phillies, 1-0.
*Offensively, it was frustrating. Nine hits, and one run. That pretty much sums it up. Crazy thing is, the Astros got three hits with runners in scoring position. How do you get three hits w/RISP and only score one run? Well, Angel Sanchez singled to right with Johnson on second, and Johnson was caught in a rundown at home by Jeff Francoeur. The Astros, down by two in the 9th, had Carlos Lee on second and Chris Johnson up. Johnson singled to right, and Lee held up. Michaels singled, scoring Lee (2-1 Mets). With two chances at the plate with Johnson on 2nd, Sanchez popped up and the pinch-hitter (Jeebus) Manzella struck out looking to end the game.
*The Astros ended two innings on the basepaths - Johnson out at home, and Michael Bourn getting caught at 2nd in the 5th.
*The Astros have successfully stolen 82 of 110 bases, for a 74.5% success rate.
*Brett Wallace was 0x3, including an 0x2 night w/RISP. 23 of Wallace's 83 plate appearances have come w/RISP (46 with men on). He has five RBI total (3 w/RISP).
*The Astros have scored four or fewer runs in ten of their last eleven games (6-5). It's the 27th time this season the Astros have been held to one - or zero - run(s) (0-27).
*Pitch Count Hero: Bourn (1x3, BB) and Lee (1x4) - 19 pitches in four PAs.
*Pitch Count Punk: Jason Castro (0x3) - 10 pitches in three PAs.
*Man of the Match: Nelson Figueroa. Pitched well enough to win.
*Goat of the Game: This goes to Anderson Hernandez, who stupidly chased down David Wright's pop-up, instead of letting Michael Bourn get it, who could have held Luis Castillo on second. And he was 0x4.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
