Mets 5 Diamondbacks 0

What a performance by Soler! A 2-hit complete game shutout. And that comes after he gave up only one run in 7 innings to the Dodgers on Monday. He seems to be settling in and learning how to pitch in the major leagues. He also was able to throw strikes, which of course is always a key. The Diamondbacks were wondering if this was the same pitcher they knocked around for 7 runs less than 2 weeks ago.

I love the fact that Willie is starting to let these guys pitch. This is the second 9 inning complete game in 3 days, after having none through the first 58 games of the season. Soler threw 108 pitches, and Willie even let him bat for himself in the 9th. In the 5th, 6th and 7th innings he threw exactly 7 pitches in each.




One interesting side note about Soler. Between innings in the dugout he was sitting in some kind of padded chair. Not on the dugout bench, in a chair. Kate suggested that he might have hemorrhoids.



As has become their formula on this road trip the Mets supported their starting pitcher with an early lead. In all 5 victories on this trip the Mets scored in the first inning, a total of 15 runs in all.

Lo Duca hit a grounder right down the third base line that Tracy threw away. Then Beltran golfed a double into the right field corner. Wright singled up the middle and then busted it around third on Valentin's double.



Beltran hit a good sinker, but both Wright and Valentin got pitches that were up in the strike zone. After the first inning Webb was able to get his sinker down and really handcuffed the Mets. Because of Tracy's error and the outs made by Delgado and Reyes the 3 first inning runs off Webb were unearned. He lowered his league leading ERA to 2.06 but the Mets did hand him his first loss of the season, keeping Tom Glavine as the only 9 game winner in the NL.

Oscar Villareal is 7-0 but no other starter in the NL is undefeated with more than 3 wins. In the AL Jose Contreras is 6-0.

During the game an injured bird landed on the field behind the mound. The umpire scooped it up in his mask, but the feisty little guy kept flapping away. Finally the umpire corralled him and it looked like he only had one functioning wing.

Ron Darling and Howie Rose discussed fights (brought on by the fact that the Mets record for most consecutive road wins against one team was against the Reds in 1985 and 1986). Rose said the Mets got into 11(!) melees in 1986. Darling said he liked the brouhahas because when you're not pitching you don't do anything but spit sunflower seeds, the occassional fracas kept things interesting. I couldn't find a way to fit donnybrook, set-to and scuffle into this paragraph.

Before the game Chris Kotter spoke with Eli Marrero. He seems like a good enough guy. He told Willie he could play all outfield positions plus first and catcher. He seemed like catcher would only be in emergencies but he rolled his eyes when he said Willie asked if he could play third base. He also commented on how hard it is to get traded during the season. I could definitely see that. You have to pack all your shit and head to some city, and when you get "home" you don't even live in your new home city. I wonder if he'll have to make this move again and find a place to stay in Norfolk once Nady comes back.

Mets send Pedro to the mound against Russ Ortiz to try to complete the sweep.