Overall, Johan Santana has enjoyed pitching against the Yankees, but what’s gnawing at him is his last one.
Santana, 4-2 with a 4.59 ERA in eight regular-season starts against the Yankees – including 1-2 with an 8.64 ERA with the Mets- gave up nine runs in three innings in a 15-0 loss last June 14 at the Stadium.
“It motivates me,’’ Santana said. “I don’t go crazy about it, but it’s there. I want to pitch against them again.’’
That game represented a career-high in runs allowed until the Phillies hit him for ten runs, May 2, at Philadelphia. Since then, he’s made three starts with no decisions, but a 2.49 ERA. He gave up two runs in seven innings in his last start, May 18, at Atlanta.
Interleague play has not been kind to Santana since joining the Mets as a free agent from Minnesota, going 2-5 with a 5.11 ERA in seven starts.
Santana will be going against C.C. Sabathia, who, beat him in three of four starts while the latter was with Cleveland.
Here’s tonight’s line-up:
Jose Reyes, SS
Luis Castillo, 2B
Jason Bay, LF
Ike Davis, 1B
David Wright, 3B
Angel Pagan, CF
Rod Barajas, C
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Johan Santana, LP
NOTEBOOK: Daniel Murphy went 5-for-5 with three RBI today for Class A Port St. Lucie. He is expected to join Class AAA Buffalo Tuesday. … Former Mets pitcher Jose Lima, 37, died of a heart attack in Los Angeles. He was 0-4 with the Mets in 2006, his final season in the major leagues. … Reliever Ryota Igarashi was activated from the DL and reliever Manny Acosta was optioned to Buffalo.
FIRST INNING: Alex Cora replaces Castillo. … Good start by Santana. Going after the Yankee hitters.-JD
BOTTOM FIRST INNING: Reyes is now two hits shy of 1,000 hits for his career.-JD
Wright looked bad in that AB with the bases loaded. Sabathia had him handcuffed.-JD
Bases loaded, one out, no runs scored. We’ve seen that more than a few times this year. Same old story.-JD
BOTTOM OF SECOND: Francoeur has nothing but the long ball on his mind.-JD
Francoeur has now lost close to 200 points on his average since the 20-inning game.-JD
If they could have done the fundamental thing and advanced Barajas to third, the Mets would have the lead now. Every little bit helps.-JD
Another good AB from Alex Cora. He just gets it done. He was a late starter to replace Castillo.-JD
FIFTH INNING: Made the comment the other day that the long ball was a matter of time for Bay. He has two tonight.-JD
Bay got hit with a breaking ball. That wasn’t intentional.-JD
9
yes u did
why did cora replace luis?
why will murph go to AAA? dont they have enuf 1b? also 2b.
sybil must have changed.
why is johan pitching the 8th? i thought that is forbidden.
dave (11): Castillo’s foot is bothering him again. … Santana’s pitch count has been great tonight.-JD
thanks john
But, the Yankees are making Santana work this inning. Before the inning started I thought he had a chance to go nine. Now, that’s not going to happen.-JD
oh that is good
drop ur ace for one of the guys who are spitting the bit from over use.
Santana is reminding me of Pedro Martinez in that once he neared 100 pitches he lost it quickly.-JD
nice and efficient
17
really?
not goodd
EIGHTH INNING: Good job by Feliciano to get Cano on three pitches. Santana was getting in trouble; no sense in pushing the envelope.-JD
dave (19): When I covered the Yankees their game plan vs. Pedro was to run up his pitch count. Martinez’s ERA spiked around 100 pitches.-JD
uv noticed the same with johan?
i noticed the past few years that johan doesnt always get out of the 6th
dave (22): I have. And, his pitch count has been high around the sixth or seventh.-JD
NINTH INNING: Stop fooling around. Get your closer in there now.-JD
It is obvious Igarashi doesn’t have it tonight. … It’s about time. Here comes K-Rod.-JD
oh
got him
Hell of a pitch by K-Rod. Gets A-Rod on the strikeout. Real tense in the ninth.-JD
A QUICK WRAP/Game #45
FINAL: Mets 6, Yankees 4.
RECORD: 22-23.
THUMBNAIL ANALYSIS: Jason Bay hit two homers to back the strong pitching of Johan Santana, who won for the first time since late April.
ON THE MOUND: Santana gave up one run in 7 2/3 innings. … Pedro Feliciano relieved Santana with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth and got Robinson Cano on a pop-up to first. … K-Rod punches out A-Rod to end the game with the tying runs on base.
AT THE PLATE: Bay, who entered the game with one homer, drove in three runs with two homers. … Alex Cora delivered a two-run single.
IN THE FIELD: Cora replaced Luis Castillo at second just before the start of the game.
LOOKING AHEAD: Philadelphia is in to start a three-game series Tuesday.-JD
john(27)
u can say that again
I saw it spiraling out of control. The pen is still burnt if you ask me.
But it was a great win