Just Like Old Times: Dodgers 11, Mets 2

The Mets dropped yet another nailbiter at Citi Field on Thursday night, as the Dodgers practically willed themselves to an 11-2 squeaker. Livan Hernandez scattered eleven hits and four walks over four solid if unspectacular innings, but kept the Mets in the game by only allowing eight of those baserunners to cross the plate. How does he do it? Guile, mostly. And ham. But he's a gamer, and even when he doesn't have his best stuff he finds a way to limit the damage.
Take tonight for example. Hernandez was clearly without his usual A+ material, but you don't throw more innings since 2000 than any other pitcher in the game without having a few tricks up your sleeve. You just knew that when he took the mound to start the top of the first that he gave himself a little pep talk -- all good veteran pitchers do -- and said, "Livan: we need this one tonight. The team has been struggling and we could really use a series victory against these guys. You can do this. Whatever it takes, on average, no more than two runs allowed per inning. If you can do that, then ham. Got it? Good. It's go time. Let's rock and roll."
That's all it took! He ran out of that dugout with a solid game plan and he just flat out executed it. That's how it's done, folks. This is why Jon Niese sucks and Livan is the king. Did you look at the boxscore? Four innings, eight runs. Eight divided by four? It's two, baby! And what did Livan tell himself during the pep talk I just made up right now? Exactly. Two runs per inning. Boo to the yah.
Swag Contest
Swag contest results can be found here and the next game's swag form already available. You can read more about the swag contest here.
SB Nation Coverage
* Traditional Recap
* Boxscore
* Amazin' Avenue Gamethread
* True Blue LA Gamethread
Win Probability Added
Big winners: David Wright, +7.4% WPA, Gary Sheffield, +2.9% WPA
Big losers: Livan Hernandez, -44.5% WPA, Ryan Church, -6.7% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Marin strikeout in first, +6.5% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Hudson three-run double in first, -20.2% WPA
Total pitcher WPA: -43.5% WPA
Total batter WPA: -6.5% WPA
GWRBI!: Orlando Hudson
Game Thread Roll Call
Nice job by aparkermarshall; his effort in the game thread embiggens us all.
| Num | Name | # of Posts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | aparkermarshall | 72 |
| 2 | itsmetsforme | 43 |
| 3 | guy endore-kaiser | 41 |
| 4 | Jadden Hopkins | 35 |
| 5 | Michkin | 34 |
| 6 | Ballonthewall | 27 |
| 7 | AnthonyR | 24 |
| 8 | pingel | 21 |
| 9 | Evan_S | 18 |
| 10 | Chickendirt | 16 |
0 recs |
13 comments
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Comments
Really
A Santos jersey along side Reyes and Beltran…ugh!
"We have to find a way to play better, there's no doubt. Overall. I'm not pointing fingers at anybody. Offense, defense, pitching -- we have to find a way to play better. The reality of this is, coming here to Pittsburgh and being swept -- personally, I feel embarrassed." -- Carlos Beltran
by EMSfan9 on Jul 9, 2009 11:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
copyright sam's nikon 2009
King of the bling come to lay down the evidence//Not George Bush, L-Millz be da president
by Sam Page on Jul 9, 2009 11:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That is the best picture I've ever seen in my life.
Nice work, Sam. At least you got something out of your first trip to the Citi.
We've got ourselves a ball club, the Mets of New York town!
by kingcritical on Jul 10, 2009 12:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That picture wants me to kill someone.
And w(here)tf is Jona-Fin Niese now, hmm?
"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw
by squid92 on Jul 10, 2009 12:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The Mets should get a handicap at this point
Before every game, Jerry Manuel picks one of his players, and inserts him into the opposing team’s scorecard. Spread the suck around!
"All energy flows according to the whims of the great magnet
What a fool I was to defy him"
-HST
by Meddler on Jul 10, 2009 12:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
damn you aparkermarshall
thanks to your embiggening efforts and the utter failure of the ny metropolitans as a club, a franchise, and an idea, i walked away totally empty handed tonight.
I.M. Forme
"When you get yourself into trouble is when you feel you have to do something, and then you get yourself in trouble." --Omar Minaya
by itsmetsforme on Jul 10, 2009 1:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I don't know what's worse about that picture
the fact that Santos’ jersey is next to Reyes’ and Beltran’s, or the fact that it’s the only one that’s a real Mets jersey, the other two being crappy marketing fails.
by cjmulrain on Jul 10, 2009 2:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
you should tag that with a "/sarcasm"
it’s a touch too subtle
by HotChipWillBreakYourLegs on Jul 10, 2009 8:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Livan Hernandez, -44.5% WPA
That has to be close to the record.
by Kepler on Jul 10, 2009 9:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
who else loves when the other team's GWRBI comes in the first inning?
Thats my fave. Actually, I didn’t watch or listen to a second last night. and it was really nice
by HotChipWillBreakYourLegs on Jul 10, 2009 9:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
When was our last home run?
Was it Tatis against Pitt last Thursday? Good Lord.
by David G on Jul 10, 2009 10:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs























