Here come the Mets
New York Mets pitcher Hisanori Takahashi (47) throws in the top of the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies. (May 26, 2010) Credit: Christopher Pasatieri
If you had been given two guesses in answering the question — Which two pitchers would start the games in which the Mets would post back-to-back shutouts of the Phillies? — how many of you would have picked R.A. Dickey and Hisanori Takahashi (pictured).
If anyone raised their hand, they're liars.
But yes, all is right in Mets world.
They've won four games in a row (their second longest winning streak of the season) and are looking for their first three-game sweep of the Phillies at home since May 30-June 1, 1997. They also moved back over .500 (24-23) for the first time since May 23.
Another fun tidbit: They are the first team to win back-to-back series against the previous year's World Series participants since the 2003 Dodgers did it against the Giants and Angels. Clearly interleague matchups help in that regard.
Anyway, Takahashi has not allowed a run in 12 innings in his first two Mets starts. In the Mets' 5-0 win last night, he allowed five hits in six innings. He struck out six and didn't walk a batter as he improved to 4-1.
Said manager Jerry Manuel: "Yeah, he's in the rotation."
In other news, Jeff Francoeur said Darryl Strawberry is always welcome in the Mets' clubhouse, and Jose Reyes, who hit his first home run of the season last night, is playing well despite the heartache over friend Jose Lima's sudden death.
Also, Fernando Nieve will replace the injured Jonathon Niese in the rotation.
