Mets have 7-8-9 act together
Francisco Rodriguez #75 of the New York Mets celebrates the final out of the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field. (April 23, 2011) Credit: Jim McIsaac
After much tinkering, the Mets seem to have found a surefire plan for their seventh, eighth and ninth innings.
The bullpen's scoreless streak reached eight innings over four games as Pedro Beato and Jason Isringhausen pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth and Francisco Rodriguez (fourth save) closed the door on the Diamondbacks in a 6-4 win Saturday. In the last eight games, Mets relievers have a 2.08 ERA (five earned runs in 212/3 innings).
"It makes it a lot easier if the starter goes six or seven innings because we can match up the way we want to match up with our bullpen," Isringhausen said. "We did that the last three days. That's our formula for success right there. We all have seen that now, so we know what we've got to do."
A big reason for the bullpen's success has been Beato, who has thrown 11 innings without allowing an earned run to start his major-league career.
"He's just pitched so good, I just said, 'He's the guy,' " manager Terry Collins said of Beato, who missed the team's pregame stretch because he was getting a massage on his elbow.
The manager and several players searched for him in the bullpen, the batting cage, the dugout and the clubhouse, to no avail. Beato finally emerged from the back, unaware of what he had missed.
"I don't know what I was thinking,'' said Beato, who admitted that was the second time he missed the team stretch. "I'll carry a watch next time.''
Isringhausen felt good enough to pitch a day game after a night game, but Collins said he probably won't use the 38-year-old in Sunday's series finale.
Everyday Beltran
Carlos Beltran was not afraid of a wet field or a day game after a night game. "Before I said a word, he said, 'I want to play tomorrow,' " said Collins, who approached Beltran after Friday night's game. "I would say he's an everyday guy right now."
Beltran agreed with that as he sat applying pain-relieving liquid to his knees, quadriceps and hamstrings using latex gloves before Saturday's game. "I feel good," he said. "If I feel good, I'm going to be out there."
Young on track
Chris Young "looked very good" during his 40-pitch bullpen session. "Everything was free and easy," Collins said. Young and Mike Pelfrey were given permission by Collins to go home because they were sick.
