NewsMets try to make most of Johan's start
New York (9-11) vs. Florida (12-8), 1:10 p.m. ET
By Marty Noble / MLB.com
04/29/09 12:52 AM ET
The generic game doesn't allow for critical games in April or any other month until August. But as Buddy Harrelson once said, "There always are games when it's advisable to win." And more often than not, those games occur when the No. 1 starter is pitching.Harrelson knew of what he spoke. He made his mark in the big leagues serving as Tom Seaver's shortstop. And when Seaver pitched, winning was ... well, highly recommended. It was good for the team's mental health.
Seaver often was surrounded by other accomplished starters -- Jerry Koosman, Jon Matlack, Gary Gentry -- during his first tenure with the Mets. Still, it was advisable. Johan Santana doesn't have that level of support with the current Mets. So on his days, winning isn't essential, but it borders on necessary.
"Yeah, when Johan's going," pitching coach Dan Warthen said, "winning is a real good idea."
And Santana is pitching Wednesday afternoon. The Mets' most compelling player is to perform in the matinee finale of the three-game series against the Marlins. Santana and Josh Johnson, who has similar status with the Fish, are to reprise their confrontation of April 12 -- that one in Miami, that one won by Johnson.
The Marlins won, 2-1, that day in what clearly was the most compelling game the Mets have played to date. Johnson pitched a complete game, and Santana struck out 13 in seven innings, allowing no earned runs."Anytime you get to see a pitcher like Johan, you want to watch," general manager Omar Minaya said. "And when he's against another great pitcher, you know you might see something like we saw in Florida -- a great game."
Santana is certain to pitch for a team weakened by injury. Jerry Manuel said Carlos Delgado won't play until Friday night in Philadelphia, and Luis Castillo is likely to miss Wednesday's game, as well. Neither played Tuesday night. Delgado missed a second straight game because of his inflamed right hip. Castillo still was affected by the back spasm that beset him Monday.
Jeremy Reed is likely to play first base in Delgado's stead, and Alex Cora, who played quite well Tuesday, will serve as Castillo's understudy at second again.
Pitching matchup
FLA: RHP Josh Johnson (2-0, 2.20 ERA)
In his last start against the Phillies on Friday, Johnson was dominant while pitching seven shutout innings. He gave up just three hits while walking two and striking out eight, leaving the game after throwing 102 pitches -- 68 for strikes. The 25-year-old right-hander allowed just three runners to get into scoring position and ended his night by striking out Greg Dobbs looking with runners on first and second and his team sporting a three-run lead. If not for a seven-run meltdown by Lindstrom, the Marlins would've improved to 4-0 in games Johnson has started this season. Johnson is 5-0 with a 1.59 ERA in six career starts against the Mets.
NYM: LHP Johan Santana (3-1, 0.70 ERA)
New York's stopper is set to make his third start at Citi Field against the team that beat him April 12 in Miami. Santana has a 2-0 record and an 0.69 ERA at the Mets' new home. He hasn't lost at home -- Shea Stadium included -- in 11 starts. He has an 8-0 record and a 1.34 ERA in those games. He is averaging 12.97 strikeouts per nine innings in his four 2009 starts, and he has allowed merely 23 baserunners in 25 2/3 innings. The four runs the Mets scored against the Nationals on Friday night doubled the number of runs they have scored for Santana this season. In his five most recent starts against the Marlins -- four with the Mets -- Santana has a 4-1 record and a 1.50 ERA in 36 innings. He has allowed 31 baserunners and struck out 45.
Gary Shefffield was honored before Tuesday night's game in recognition of his 500th career home run. ... Sheffield's two RBIs Tuesday gave him 1,637, moving him past Ernie Banks into 26th place on the all-time list. ... Catcher Ramon Castro, who hasn't started in four games, will be behind the plate Wednesday afternoon. Rookie Omir Santos will sit. ... Manuel intends to have David Wright bat cleanup in front of Delgado and Sheffield when the Mets oppose a left-handed starter -- such as Jamie Moyer on Saturday.
This date in Mets history -- April 29: In one of the more bizarre games the Mets played in their first five seasons, they defeated the Pirates, 5-2, in 11 innings at Forbes Field in 1966. The Mets, who allowed a run in the bottom of the inning, scored four times in the 11th on three walks, a wild pitch, a passed ball and two singles -- all after two outs. But what made it bizarre was that losing pitcher Luke Walker intentionally walked Jerry Grote with first base occupied -- he already had walked Ron Swoboda, putting the go-ahead run in scoring position. Chuck Hiller's ensuing pinch-hit single scored Swoboda.
Koosman pitched a four-hitter against Atlanta in 1973 to put New York's record at 12-8. The Mets lost the next five games, and, after this date, their record never again was four games over. 500, not even when they clinched the division championship five months later. ... Eleven years later, the Mets beat Koosman, then a starter with the Phillies, in a 6-2 game at Shea Stadium. It was Koosman's first return to Shea since the February 1979 trade that moved him to the Twins for Jesse Orosco. Koosman completed his career after the 1985 season with a 1-2 record against New York.
In 1992, Bret Saberhagen gained his first victory with the Mets, pitching a three-hitter in a 1-0 victory against the Astros and the late Darryl Kile at Shea Stadium. ... And in 2005, Livan Hernandez limited the Mets to one run in eight innings in a 5-1 Nationals victory in Washington. Brian Schneider drove in a run, while Ryan Church was an outfield substitute.
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• WFAN 660, WADO 1280 (Español) Up next
• Thursday: Off-day
• Friday: Mets (Mike Pelfrey, 2-0, 6.32) at Phillies (Chan Ho Park, 0-0, 7.16), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Mets (Oliver Perez, 1-2, 9.31) at Phillies (Jamie Moyer, 3-1, 5.09), 3:40 p.m. ET
Marty Noble is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
