Mets 5, Astros 1: Dickey Stifles Houston, Offense Does Things That Contribute To Winning

R.A. Dickey was rock solid through seven-plus innings, allowing just six hits and a run while walking and striking out a pair apiece. The league's worst post-All-Star-break offense exploded for five runs, all against Astros starter Bud Norris.

The Mets loaded the bases with none out in the second, but Luis Hernandez struck out on three pitches to bring everyday hero Dickey to the plate. Dickey surprised nobody by singling to center, bringing home David Wright and Ike Davis with the first runs of the game. Angel Pagan followed with an RBI groundout to second, and Castillo blooped (what else) a single to center to chase home Dickey with the inning's fourth run.

The Mets tallied their fifth and final run in the sixth on a Josh Thole solo shot off the Pepsi facade in right field, his second home run of the season.

Bobby Parnell scattered a couple of hits in a scoreless eighth and Hisanori Takhashi closed things down in the ninth. The Mets spike back up to 65-65, and for the 26th straight game are no further than one game above or below .500. That's the sort of stunningly consistent mediocrity that only $140 million can buy you.

Dickey accomplished that rare feat of accruing both the highest pitching and batting WPA in the same game.

The Mets hop a flight bound for Atlanta to being a four-game series with the first-place Braves beginning on Monday.

Poem by Howard Megdal

I see how this goes, we know the story
Mound phenom takes bat and gets all the glory
Like Ruth, Dickey from pitching will soon alight
And land, batting cleanup, as slugger in right

SB Nation Coverage

* Traditional Recap
* Boxscore
* Amazin' Avenue Gamethread
* The Crawfish Boxes Gamethread

Win Probability Added

Big winners: R.A. Dickey (pitching), +21.6% WPA, R.A. Dickey (batting), +13.8% WPA
Big losers: Luis Hernandez, -8.3% WPA, Carlos Beltran, -4.9% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Dickey two-run single in second, +14.8% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Hernandez strikeout with bases loaded and none out in second, -6.7% WPA
Total pitcher WPA: +27.4% WPA
Total batter WPA: +22.6% WPA
GWRBI!: R.A. Dickey

Game Thread Roll Call

Nice job by KeithsMoustache; his effort in the game thread embiggens us all.