Pelfrey Lead NY Over Astros, 2-1

The New York Mets collected just 3 hits but where able to defeat the Houston Astros 2-1 to take game 1 of the weekend series endinga 2 game losing streak in the process.  Mike Pelfrey out-dueled former Met Nelson Figueroa (7 IP, 2R, 1ER) to pick up his 13th win of the season.  Pelfrey was spectacular once again, scattering 6 hits, while walking 2 batters, and strucking out 4, over 8 scoreless inning.  He has now allowed just 1 ER over his last 16 IP (0.56 ERA)  proving that his mid season struggles are a thing of the past.  After failing to reach the 5th inning in 7 straight starts, Big Pelf is now 3-1 in his last 4, allowing 4 ER over 30 IP (1.20 ERA). Mike spoke after the game about his return to success:

"

I’ve really gone back to the 4-seam fastball.  It’s something that we did earlier in the year and I’ve kinda gone back to using it again.  I think tonight I was fortunate I was pretty erratic to say the least but when it came time I made some pitches.”

"

Pelfrey worked his way in and out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the first inning, allowing 2 walks around a Hunter Pence single,  before striking out Brett Wallace on a 93 MPH fastball to escape the jam and the Houston threat.  In the bottom half of the inning, with Luis Castillo on 3rdbase, David Wright hit a flew out to short right field.  Houston second baseman, Anderson Hernandez, made an over the shoulder catch allowing Castillo to score from 3rd and give NY a 1-0 lead.

With the Mets still clinging to a 1 run lead, it seemed as if the Mets were ready to break the game open when Jeff Francoeur singled to put runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out.  Figueroa than walked Henry Blanco to bring rookie second basesman Ruben Tejada up with the bases loaded. Nelson quickly got ahead of Tejada 1-2, before throwing 3 straight balls to the light hitting second baseman to walk in the games 2nd run.

I believe this tweet from Anthony DiComo of MLB.com says it all:

Figgy followed by inducing Mets starter, Mike Pelfrey, to ground into an inning ending double play to defuse any thoughts of a big inning.

Manager Jerry Manuel called upon...TO READ THE REST OF THIS POST HEAD TO METSZILLA.COM BY CLICKING HERE:

http://www.metszilla.com/?p=11731