Mets 4, Rockies 3: Mike Pelfrey Leads the Way with Arm and Bat, Mets Defeat Rockies

In a game that felt more like it was played in the twilight zone than Colorado, the Mets defeated the Rockies for the first time this season. For the Mets, one-run victories have been rare this year, but they managed to hang on to the slim lead tonight.

Mike Pelfrey pitched well over 6.2 innings before torrential rain came down as he had a 2-2 count on Dexter Fowler in the seventh inning. Pelfrey was forced to leave the game by the ensuing rain delay, but he left having allowed three solo home runs but not much else. He only struck out two, but he also only walked one.

At the plate, the Mets got out to an early two-run lead on a bases-loaded single by Ike Davis in the first inning. Pelfrey's first pair of solo home runs allowed came before the Mets scored again, but he made up for it. With runners on first and second in the fourth inning, Pelfrey drove a double into the right-center field gap, scoring two runs and giving the Mets a 4-2 lead at the time.

The worst part of the game came on a pop up in front of the mound on which the entire infield converged, and David Wright and Ike Davis ran into each other as Wright made the catch. The contact of their collision wasn't so bad on its own, but there was something awkward about the way Ike went down to the ground. Ike finished the inning in the field but left the game after that. The Mets announced he strained his calf and is day-to-day for now. It wouldn't be surprising to see him land on the disabled list, even if only for precautionary reasons.

When the game resumed following the rain delay, Jason Isringhausen took the ball to try to finish off Dexter Fowler, who fouled a pitch off his knee and had a hard time walking off the field as he left the game. Isringhausen eventually finished off the inning and got the first pair of outs in the eighth before Tim Byrdak came on to do his lefty-specialist duties, easily striking out Todd Helton. Francisco Rodriguez closed out the game with his second 1-2-3 inning of the year.

Pelfrey's great night and the win in general were overshadowed a bit by Davis' injury. The starting rotation has looked better of late, improving upon their awful start to the season, and the bullpen, which started out the year awfully, has looked nothing short of great lately.

Weather permitting, the rubber match of the series will take place tomorrow at 3:10 pm with Jon Niese pitching for the Mets and Ubaldo Jimenez pitching for the Rockies.

SB Nation Coverage

* Traditional Recap
* Boxscore
* Amazin' Avenue Gamethread
* Purple Row Gamethread

Win Probability Added

Big winners: Francisco Rodriguez, +23.3% WPA, Mike Pelfrey (pitching), +16.6% WPA, Mike Pelfrey (hitting), +16.4% WPA, Jason Isringhausen, +14.6% WPA
Big losers: David Wright, -12.0% WPA, Jason Bay, -11.4% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Mike Pelfrey double in the fourth, +20.7% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Carlos Gonzalez home run in the sixth, -13.2% WPA
Total pitcher WPA: +58.1% WPA
Total batter WPA: -8.1% WPA
GWRBI!: Mike Pelfrey

Game Thread Roll Call

Nice job by sp0rtsfan86; his effort in the game thread embiggens us all.