Francisco gets all three saves in sweep
Frank Francisco of the New York Mets celebrates the win with catcher Mike Nickeas against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. (April 8, 2012) Credit: Getty Images
Just a week ago, it seemed doubtful that Frank Francisco would be available to pitch on Opening Day. Now the Mets don't seem to want to close a game without him.
Francisco, the team's biggest offseason acquisition, pitched a scoreless ninth Sunday to complete a sweep of the Atlanta Braves. He also made franchise history by saving his first three games with the team.
"It feels great,'' he said. "They've been waiting for me and I was waiting for them to give me the opportunity to go out there and do my thing."
Francisco, who had fluid drained from his inflamed knee and was given a cortisone shot last week, has allowed two hits and struck out four in three innings.
Francisco, who ended last season with seven straight saves for Toronto, has punctuated each one of his 2012 save opportunities by striking out the final batter.
"The last two games, it's just set up to where [Jon] Rauch and Francisco have pitched the end of it," said manager Terry Collins, who also got Manny Acosta into a game, as planned.
Francisco is fine with all the work. "I don't worry about if it's bothering me at the end of the game," he said of his knee. "If I can go, I'm not going to say no."
Ike left out
The one starter who wasn't a part of the Mets' 11-hit parade was Ike Davis. The first baseman, who walked in the fourth, is 0-for-11 after going 0-for-3 Sunday. Even starter Jonathon Niese and the much-maligned Jason Bay chipped in a hit each in the 7-5 win over the Braves.
"If your [No.] 4 hitter doesn't get on base very much and doesn't help you out and you sweep a team, it's a good sign that the team's playing really well," said Davis, who didn't seem overly concerned.
Extra bases
David Wright (1-for-1, two walks and a sacrifice fly) hit .667 (6-for-9) in the series. He needs five RBIs to tie Darryl Strawberry for the franchise lead (733) . . . Brian McCann's solo shot off Acosta in the eighth is the only run the Mets' bullpen has allowed in 10 innings . . . The last time the Braves started 0-3 was 2003.
