Saturday, July 29, 2006

Happy Recap: Mets 6 Braves 4

Three huge things happened in this game:
1) Pedro came off the disabled and pitched five good innings. He pitched one horrible inning first, but I'm looking on the bright side.
2) The team came right back after the Braves took the lead.
3) Billy Wagner slammed the door in the 9th.

Number 3 is the most important. The biggest reason the Braves have dominated the Mets so much over the years and especially at Turner Field is because Mets closers (and other relievers) were constantly blowing games. The main reason why I think closers are really important to a club and that the save statistic is meaningful, is because a loss in a game which you were leading going into the 9th inning is usually deflating to a team. It has a big carryover especially in a pennant race.

I really thought that Reyes' home run to lead off the game was going to be some harbinger, a sign that the worm in the NL East has turned. But that wasn't the case.

The Braves pounded Pedro in the first inning, although it seemed like every hit they got was just out of the reach of an infielder.

The Mets were able to get some timely hits from Beltran and Franco and a sac fly from Valentin. Wright's homer provided much needed insurance.

The bullpen was great, in addition to Wagner. Feliciano and Sanchez looked awesome. Interesting that Willie used Feliciano instead of Heilman. Maybe it was just because the Braves had lefites coming up or maybe he's losing faith in Heilman.

This game had the highest attendance for any regular season Braves game in Atlanta ever. It broke the record set the night Aaron broke the record. It's 715! There's a new home run champion of all time, and it's Henry Aaron.

One more piece of good news from this game. Chipper Jones got hurt.


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