Saturday, May 14, 2011

Houston, We Have No Bullpen

I had a very bad feeling about this game after seeing Jose Reyes get picked off for the third time this season at first base in the first inning. Plus, Dillon Gee, who I scooped up the night before and added to my fantasy team as a spot starter in hopes of stealing a win, was pitching like a hometown guy who's parents drove all the way form Ft. Worth, Tex. to see their son pitch at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Unfortunately, Gee did not hold up his end of the bargain.

In defense of Gee, he was serviceable but in no way compared to his counterpart, Bud Norris, who struck out 8 Met hitters and pitched into the eighth inning with a strong 4-1 lead. Then, disaster struck, Justin Turner singled and Fernando Martinez, coming off the bench, slammed a 2-run homer to put the Mets within one run.

With Norris all but out of gas, Astros manager Brad Mills now had to rely on his unreliable bullpen. Opting to go with the right-hander, Jeff Fulchino, instead of the lefty, Fernando Abad, Reyes would work out a walk and David Wright would proceed with a clutch 2-run jack that was the icing on the cake for a very exciting and impressive Mets victory.

Never saw that coming. Now I can think twice when Reyes gets picked off in the first inning and our starter walks the lead-off hitter, who happens to be the opposing team's pitcher, that led to a run. Great win!

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