NewsRedding looks to keep starters rolling
New York (27-20) vs. Florida (22-27), 1:10 p.m. ET
By Tim Britton / MLB.com
05/30/09 1:50 AM ET
NEW YORK -- When your pitchers are going this well, who cares who's on the disabled list?The Mets have won six of seven and four straight games despite injury woes behind a sturdy bullpen and a starting rotation that has evolved from shaky to solid to borderline spectacular.
Mike Pelfrey turned in his best performance of the season Friday night, allowing one run on five hits in a season-high 7 2/3 innings. It improved upon Pelfrey's previous start, when he gave up just two first-inning runs in seven frames at Boston.
Mets starters have now lasted at least six innings in 10 of the team's past 12 games. That includes Pelfrey's foray into the eighth Friday and Livan Hernandez's complete game Tuesday night against the Nationals.
Pelfrey put the finishing touches on an excellent May, in which he went 2-1 with a 2.90 ERA. That's a sharp contrast from the 6.32 ERA he posted in April or the 0-5 record he compiled in May 2008.
The success of the starters has further bolstered one of the team's initial strengths: the bullpen. Mets relievers only had to pitch six innings in a three-game sweep of Washington earlier in the week. The well-rested bullpen pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings Friday night, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out three.
"I feel pretty good about that," manager Jerry Manuel said of matching his bullpen against Florida's hitters late in a tie game. "Those guys did an excellent job. We feel a part -- and a big part -- of the foundation of this team is the bullpen."
For the most part, the Mets have gotten what they expected out of offseason additions Francisco Rodriguez and J.J. Putz at the back end of the bullpen. But they have also received key contributions from Bobby Parnell, along with Brian Stokes and Pedro Feliciano -- the two holdovers from last year's powder keg of a 'pen.
The Mets may need more than just Putz and Rodriguez today with fifth starter Tim Redding on the mound. Redding had one of the few poor outings by a Mets starter his last time out, lasting just 4 2/3 innings in a 12-5 loss to the Red Sox.
Redding will be opposed by Florida ace Josh Johnson. Johnson has allowed just three earned runs in two starts against the Mets this season -- both Marlins' victories.
Pitching matchup
NYM: RHP Tim Redding (0-1, 6.75 ERA)
Redding makes his third start this season against a team that was his nemesis last season. Pitching for the Nationals, he started six games against the Marlins, won once and lost four times. His ERA against them in only 29 innings was 7.76. He allowed six home runs. Chances are Hanley Ramirez will be back in the starting lineup Saturday -- he wasn't Friday night because of a tight groin -- because he owns Redding. He has three doubles and three home runs in 13 career at-bats against the righty.
FLA: RHP Josh Johnson (3-1, 2.67 ERA)
Johnson took a no-decision in his most recent start Sunday against the Rays after being removed while in position to win. He allowed three runs on six hits in seven innings while striking out seven. Johnson threw a complete game against the Mets on April 12 in Miami and started in the Marlins' victory at Citi Field 17 days later. Johnson has held the Mets' biggest stars in check over his career. Jose Reyes, David Wright and Carlos Beltran are all batting .250 or lower with no home runs against him.
The Mets' victory against the Nationals on Wednesday was notable for what happened on the field -- Adam Dunn's long home run, Daniel Murphy's video-reviewed home run, Fernando Martinez not running -- and for what didn't happen. Forty-one of the 79 batters in the game did not put the ball in play.
The Elias Sports Bureau noticed and has noted that the game was the second in Mets history in which more than half of the plate appearances resulted in a walk, a strikeout or a batter being hit by a pitch. The previous instance occurred on April 22, 1970, and was one of greater distinction. Tom Seaver struck out 19 Padres, including the final 10. Thirty-three of the 63 batters in that game didn't put the ball in play (seven walks and 26 strikeouts).
This date in Mets history -- May 31: The Mets and Giants played 32 innings at Shea Stadium on this date in 1964. The Giants won the first game of a doubleheader that began at 1 p.m. ET, with Juan Marichal pitching a complete game in the 5-3 victory. A three-run home run by Joe Christopher against starter Bobby Bolin and off the glove of Willie Mays tied the score in the seventh inning of the second game. The Giants scored the decisive runs in their 8-6 victory in the 23rd inning on a pinch-hit double by Del Crandell and a single by Jesus Alou against Galen Cisco, who was pitching his ninth inning of relief. Gaylord Perry, the fifth of six Giants pitchers, earned the victory, pitching 10 innings. He was responsible for nine of the Giants' 22 strikeouts. The game lasted seven hours, 23 minutes and ended at 11:25 p.m.
And of course, Ed Sudol was the home-plate umpire. He also worked the plate in the 25-inning game the Mets and Cardinals played on Sept. 11, 1974, at Shea, and the 24-inning game the Mets and Astros played at the Astrodome on April 15, 1968. Sudol also worked the bases on Aug. 1, 1972, when the Mets and Phillies played 27 innings in a doubleheader at Shea.
Tickets
Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio• Gameday
• Official game notes On television
• SNY On radio
• WFAN 660, WADO 1280 (Español) Up next
• Sunday: Mets (John Maine, 4-3, 4.18) vs. Marlins (Chris Volstad, 4-3, 3.69), 1:10 p.m. ET
• Monday: Mets (Livan Hernandez, 4-1, 4.28) at Pirates (Ian Snell, 1-6, 5.43), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Mets (Johan Santana, 7-2, 1.77) at Pirates (Zach Duke, 5-4, 2.75), 7:05 p.m. ET
Tim Britton is an associate reporter for MLB.com. Marty Noble contributed to this story. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
