6/24/10 Z Cap: Tigers 6 Mets 5

With an Atlanta Braves loss this afternoon, the New York Mets had a chance to take over first place in the NL East with a victory over the Detriot Tigers.  However, Armando Galarrago (6IP, 4ER) and company had other plans.  surviving a late inning come back and claiming a 6-5 victory.  Galarraga picked up his 3rd win of the season and first since his infamous perfect/non perfect game.  The Mets left 7 runners on base and in the bottom of the 7th inning  failed to bring home the tying run with 1 out and the bases loaded.  Hisanori Takahashi, coming off 2 impressive starts, was anything but on this night (4IP, 6ER, 8H, 4BB), losing his for the 3rd time this season. Jerry Manuel had this to say about his starter after the game:

"

The most important thing is his command when he begins to walk guys or guys take walks. What I mean by that is they don't get overly aggressive with him then they have a chance to be a little patent and they take the walks. When that is happening and he's got to make the adjustment and come back in the zone a little bit. Every now and again he will get a team that will do that to him and he'll get a team that is very aggressive and he'll have better command and he pitches well. He has been pretty steady for us for the most part. A couple of walks  and couple hard hit balls but he's been pretty good."

"

Ryan Raburn hit just his 2nd home run of the season, a solo shot in the 5th inning that extended the Tiger lead to 4-1.  After back-to-back singles and a walk loaded the bases, Manuel decided it was time to pull the plug on Takahashi, calling upon Elmer Dessens to minimize the damage.  After walking  Brandon Inge on 5 pitches to plate a run, Dessens allowed another inherited runner to score when Danny Worth grounded into a fielders choice.  With the score 6-1 Dessens made quick work of Armando Galarraga to end the inning.

Down 5 runs in the bottom of the 6th, the Mets responded 3 runs, highlighted by David Wright's (2 for 5) RBI double and Jason Bay's (1 for 3) RBI single.  With the Tiger's lead cut to 6-4 in the bottom of Ithe 7th inning,  Chris Carter (1 for 3), who entered the game as part of a double switch in the 5th inning, singled to right field to drive in Ruben Tejada (1 for 3) and bring the Mets to within 1 run. Left hander Phil Coke entered the game after a Jose Reyes (1 for 3) single and Jesus Feliciano (3 for 5) promplty load the bases with a dribbler past the mound.  With 1 out and the bags full David Wright (.417 vs. lefties) stepped up to the plate with a chance.... TO READ THE REST OF THIS POST AND OTHERS LIKE IT HEAD TO METSZILLA.COM BY CLICKING HERE: http://www.metszilla.com/?p=2537