First win baby! How does it feel? It feels great, actually. I have to admit that I was skeptical about John Smoltz' ability to succeed as a starting pitcher, considering he is moving there from the bullpen and the fact that he got shelled his first time out against the Marlins.
Of course, Smoltz was filthy yesterday, striking out fifteen Mets over 8+ innings. Pedro, while striking out fewer batters (nine), was just as dominant, allowing only two hits and a walk while pitching a complete game.
This game was exactly what the Mets (and I) needed. The Mets had runners on base all game but weren't able to plate any of them. That is, until the eighth, when the Mets had the type of inning we had been expecting all year (week).
Reyes led off and got on board with a single. After a sacrifice bunt by Miguel Cairo, Carlos Beltran earned his paycheck by going yard off of Smoltz to give the Mets a 2-1 lead. Cliff Floyd followed with a homerun to left-center off of southpaw Tom Martin (Floyd's second homer of the season, both off of lefties). Minky sent one off of the right-field wall, just a few feet shy of a homerun, and The Chosen One launched a bomb to dead-center, giving the Mets a 5-1 lead.
They would add a run in the ninth on a singl... err, double by Reyes and an RBI-single by Carlos Beltran.
Petey closed the door in the ninth, and the Mets headed home with their first win and a 1-5 record.