Mets Rally In Independence Day Win Over L.A.

The Mets were no-hit through the first five innings, but rallied in the sixth inning to beat the Dodgers by a score of 5-2.

• Chris Capuano went six innings, giving up two runs on six hits, while striking out five and walking two.

• Angel Pagan got the Mets on the board with an RBI double in the sixth inning, scoring Ruben Tejada. Carlos Beltran and Daniel Murphy also had RBI doubles in the inning.

• The Mets would go on to score two more runs in the eighth inning on back-to-back singles from Jason Bay and Lucas Duda.

• Bobby Parnell threw two perfect innings of relief. He lit up the radar gun at 101 in the seventh inning. Francisco Rodriguez allowed a lead off double, but settled down to record his 21st save of the season.

• There was a scary moment in the sixth inning as Bay ran into the left field wall, robbing Aaron Miles of an extra-base hit. That is the same left field wall Bay ran into last year which caused his concussion. Bay walked away from this current run-in unscathed.

Next up: The Mets continue their series against Los Angeles on Tuesday. Mike Pelfrey will take the mound against Ted Lilly and the Dodgers. Game time is 10:10 p.m.

Go West, Young Man: Capuano, Mets Take On The Dodgers

July 4, 2011

9:10 PM ET

Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

TV: SNY

RADIO: WFAN 660

NEW YORK METS

Starting Pitcher: Chris Capuano (7-7, 4.27 ERA)

Capuano gave up three home runs in his last start, but still managed to get the win over the Tigers. Against the Dodgers, he is 2-3 with a 3.38 ERA.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Starting Pitcher: Rubby De La Rosa (3-3, 4.41 ERA)

De La Rosa went a career-high seven innings in his last outing. He allowed just one run to the Twins, but the offense couldn't back up his quality start. De La Rosa has never faced the Mets. 

METS LINEUP:

Pagan-CF, Turner-2B, Beltran-RF, Murphy-3B, Bay-LF, Duda-1B, Paulino-C, Tejada-SS, Capuano-LHP

NOTE:

According to Jon Morosi of FOXSports, the Mets signed right-handed pitcher Miguel Batista to a minor league deal. Why, you ask? Nobody knows.

Mets Morning News: Reyes, Reyes, & More Reyes

According to Joel Sherman of the NY Post, Sandy Alderson is considering making Jose Reyes a substantial offer in the offseason.

Alderson has not only been swayed by the MVP-caliber play of Reyes, but also in calculating the additional worth that would come by elating the fan base if Reyes could be retained and how much it would cost to replace a switch-hitter in his prime if Reyes left.

In other words, if the Mets surmise that Reyes is worth, say, five years at $100 million, is it worth it to go to, say, six years at $120 million or more and see that additional money as: 1) $10 million of advertising directed at the fans and 2) $10 million in peace of mind that they do not have to try to find replacements to make up for what would be lost, especially since they already know Reyes can play in New York and loves playing here.

In case you missed it yesterday, Reyes underwent an MRI to evaluate his left hamstring. He was diagnosed with a grade 1 hamstring strain, which is the least severe kind of strain.

"I just have to make sure I'm ready to go. I don't want to go into a game and play one or two innings and have to come out of the game. When I want to play I have to make sure my leg is going to be able to stay for a full game. ... But right now I'm looking forward to being in the lineup the next couple of days."

Reyes and Carlos Beltran were selected to this year's All-Star Game. Reyes overcame a nearly 245,000 deficit to beat out Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki as starter at shortstop.

Keith Hernandez, Ron Darling, and other members of the 1986 team will be helping Habitat for Humanity build new homes for those in need.

Darling is particularly proud that across the generation of Mets players, they have lent a hand with the program in the city.

"My two boys and I went down to New Orleans and worked with Habitat there and it was such a wonderful bonding experience for us. I really think it's a great program. What's great about the Mets doing this here in the city is that so often people only think of the people in ravaged areas; sometimes it's the families in your neighborhood that need help, the family down the street."

Bay To The Rescue, Mets Win In Walk-Off Fashion

It took ten innings, but the Mets were finally able to get a win out of this Subway Series. They beat the Yankees by a score of 3-2.

• With the bases loaded in the bottom of the tenth, Jason Bay had the game winning hit with a single to right field.

• R.A. Dickey went five innings before leaving with a tight left glute. I can't make this up, folks. Dickey allowed one run on two hits, while striking out three and walking two. He retired the first eight batters to start the game.

• Jason Isringhausen allowed the Yankees second run to score in the eighth inning. After giving up a triple to Brett Gardner, Curtis Granderson drove him home on a sacrifice fly to right field.

• The Mets first run of the game was in the first inning on an RBI single off the bat of Daniel Murphy. Murphy finished the day going 3-4 at the plate.

• Facing Mariano Rivera with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Jason Bay drew a walk and advanced to second on a single by Lucas Duda. Ronny Paulino, pinch-hitting for Josh Thole, then singled to drive home Bay and tie the game. Ruben Tejada then reached on a fielding error by Ramiro Pena. Duda was waived home on the play and thrown out at the plate, sending the game to extra innings.

• The Mets announced that Jose Reyes has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 hamstring strain, which according to Sandy Alderson, is the most benign strain. Reyes will be watched over the next few days, but as of right now, he will not be placed on the disabled list. It's not clear, however, when exactly he will play next. According to Alderson, they will see how he feels in next few days, and according to Terry Collins, he may not play until after the All-Star game. In other words...no one knows.

Next up: The Mets head west to take on the Dodgers. Chris Capuano will get the start for New York. Game time is 9:1o p.m.

Darryl Strawberry Pitches In For A Good Cause

On Saturday, I had the opportunity to speak with Darryl Strawberry briefly as he was signing autographs at Dutchess Stadium, home of the Hudson Valley Renegades (Short season single-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Ray's).

Strawberry was on hand to help raise money for the Renegades' Pitch For Kids Fund which provides grants to non-profit organizations that help children and families throughout the Hudson Valley. The fundraiser also benefited the Poughkeepsie Professional Firefighters, International Association of Fire Fighters Local 596, which sponsors little league teams and other youth sports throughout the City of Poughkeepsie.

I could have asked Strawberry about the current Mets team, or his thoughts on the Subway Series, but I know I would have just gotten a canned response. Plus I was only allowed to ask him a couple questions.

Instead, I decided to ask him about his foundation which aims to raise money and awareness for people affected by autism.

For those who are unaware, autism is a big area of interest for me as I have a family member on the autism spectrum, and I also work with autistic students.

I know your foundation deals with the "Fight For Autism," how did you decide to go with autism as your focus? Has it affected you personally?

"No, it hasn't affected me personally. Not at all. I mean, I have five wonderfully, healthy children. My wife has three, so we have a total of eight. My wife's sister works with children with autism, and we went to visit them in '06 and it affected me then. That's when I realized that I needed to help. So, we basically took it up on our own to start a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization called the Darryl Strawberry Foundation, and started raising money for children affected with autism."

Before the game, you met with students and staff from the Anderson Center for Autism. How was the experience?

"Great. I'm right at home, because I've been doing it since '06, so it was just a very familiar place for me, it's not an unknown place for me. I love children with disabilities, children with autism, children that are affected by just about anything. I love them. I have compassion, true compassion, for the children affected with autism. Autistic children has become me and my wife's life and we are just truly greatful and blessed to know that we have the opportunity to be a part, to be a voice for them, and keep the message out there about children affected and diagnosed with autism."

For more on the Darryl Strawberry Foundation, click here.

Mets Try To Win At Least One Game In Subway Series

July 3, 2011

1:10 PM ET

Citi Field

TV: SNY

RADIO: WFAN 660

NEW YORK METS

Starting Pitcher: R.A. Dickey (4-7, 3.77 ERA)

Dickey went seven innings in his last start against Detroit. He allowed three runs on ten hits, while striking out six and walking three. The last time Dickey faced the Yankees, he went six innings to get the win. Lifetime, he is 3-1 with a 2.39 ERA against the Yankees.

NEW YORK YANKEES

Starting Pitcher: Freddy Garcia (7-6, 3.28 ERA)

Garcia went six strong innings in his last start against the Brewers. He also has not allowed a home run in his last four games. That's longest he's been able to do that since 2002. In his career, he is 1-2 with a 2.61 ERA against the Mets.

METS LINEUP:

Pagan-CF, Turner-2B, Beltran-RF, Murphy-3B, Bay-LF, Duda-1B, Thole-C, Tejada-SS, Dickey-RHP

Mets Morning News: Reyes' Hamstring, Collins Q&A, and Pagan Will Leadoff

Jose Reyes left Saturday's game after the second inning with tightness in his left hamstring. That is not the same hamstring Reyes had surgery on in 2009.

"I felt something weird there. After I feel that I don't want to put pressure there because I feel if I put some extra there my hamstring is going to blow up. So I just, by that time, I wanted to come out of the game and take care."

Steve Serby of the NY Post sat down with Terry Collins for a Q & A.

Q: How devastated, or whatever the word is, will you be if you don't get to manage Jose Reyes next season?

A: I'll certainly be disappointed, because I enjoy watching him play so much, and being around him so much. His smile is contagious. When he walks on the field, his teammates, it's contagious to them how he plays. They look to him to set the stage here. But I will tell you, I'll be disappointed for a short period of time because the one thing I do know, and we've tried to prove this year, we can no longer worry about who's not here and who is here.

Angel Pagan will bat leadoff for the foreseeable future, and Ruben Tejada will take over at shortstop until Jose Reyes returns.

Willie Harris is expected to be activated from the bereavement list today after he and his wife lost their baby.