Mets 2, Cardinals 0
I had a fleeting moment of recosideration at the start of last night's game. I was nervous, I could tell Weaver was poised for a good start, and I thought, maybe the red birds will take this one. Game one is important in every series, but for the Mets, after the cancellation of the actual first game, and considering their pitcing woes, this game was even more important. They cannot waste a Glavine start.
They might have done just that, had it not been for the usual suspect, Carlos Beltran, who has cemented himself as an ultra reliable post season slugger. Just like he did with Houston in 2004, Beltran provided all the offense the Mets needed, smashing a two-run home run in the sixth inning.
Glavine pitched seven innings of scoreless baseball, throwing only 89 pitches, giving up four hits and simultaneously putting himself in a good position to pitch on three days rest, should the Mets need him again.
The Mets however should not get ahead of themselves. Last night the following Cardinals starers went hitless: Eckstein, Encarnacion, Pujols, Rolen and Belliard. These are all excellent ball players, they all want to win, and the Mets can bet that they will start hitting. Controlling the heart of the St. Louis line-up is key for the Mets, and with less experienced and less consistent pitchers starting the next three games, they will have to play even tougher defense.
Tonight is a must-win for the Cardinals. They cannot afford to blow a Chris Carpenter start, and should the Mets take a 2-0 lead in the series, they will be very difficult to shut down for four of the remaining six games.
Speaking of must-win, the same is true for the A's. They play this afternoon in Detroit and the pitching match up is Harden v. Rogers. No doubt, the Gambler is itching to prove that he can throw more than one gem in the post season.
They might have done just that, had it not been for the usual suspect, Carlos Beltran, who has cemented himself as an ultra reliable post season slugger. Just like he did with Houston in 2004, Beltran provided all the offense the Mets needed, smashing a two-run home run in the sixth inning.
Glavine pitched seven innings of scoreless baseball, throwing only 89 pitches, giving up four hits and simultaneously putting himself in a good position to pitch on three days rest, should the Mets need him again.
The Mets however should not get ahead of themselves. Last night the following Cardinals starers went hitless: Eckstein, Encarnacion, Pujols, Rolen and Belliard. These are all excellent ball players, they all want to win, and the Mets can bet that they will start hitting. Controlling the heart of the St. Louis line-up is key for the Mets, and with less experienced and less consistent pitchers starting the next three games, they will have to play even tougher defense.
Tonight is a must-win for the Cardinals. They cannot afford to blow a Chris Carpenter start, and should the Mets take a 2-0 lead in the series, they will be very difficult to shut down for four of the remaining six games.
Speaking of must-win, the same is true for the A's. They play this afternoon in Detroit and the pitching match up is Harden v. Rogers. No doubt, the Gambler is itching to prove that he can throw more than one gem in the post season.
