Mets 2 - Reds 1

How 'bout that Matsui character? Really couldn't have picked a better time to hit his third dinger of '05. It may not be enough to eradicate the "We Want Cairo" chants from the Met faithful, but now at least Kaz has the edge in the game-winning home run department.

I hope he keeps it up, giving the team some production out of second base, making me feel less sorry for him that in spite of his best efforts and past dominance in Japan he may just be an atrocious player by MLB standards, and making Joe Sheehan of BP look a little less foolish for predicting a big sophomore season out of him.

Kaz the Pitcher was also impressive. There were a few unsettlingly deep fly balls, which may have only been outs in Shea, but he only gave out two free passes and generally kept the Reds hitters off balance.

Ishii's ERA for the season is now on the good side of 4.00, but in yet another illustration of the idiocy of the Win as a statistic, DeJean was credited with this one after getting the last two outs of the 7th.

I'm still not sure whether Ishii will be able to keep up that kind of run prevention with such dismal walk numbers (15 BB in 25 innings, against 16 strikeouts), but somehow he's been getting the job done and for the time being is looking like a worthwhile addition by Omar Minaya.

Speaking of worthwhile additions, Steve Colyer may not be so bad after all. Acquired from the Tigers for Matt Ginter, there was no cause for optimism that the deal would pay off much at all. Now it seems there is, but only nine innings worth. After a poor start at Norfolk, the relatively young lefty has been lights out. His line with the Tides is now 9 IP, 14 K/3 BB, 4.00 ERA. Not bad at all. If Koo and Ring suffer from injury or, and after last night I'm thinking especially of the former here, just start to suck, Colyer may not be a disaster with the big club.

The Mets are going for their full measure of revenge as I write this. No score in the top of the 2nd, but Adam Dunn just tripled (!) off Glavine to lead it off, so the scorelessness may not continue.

A plus tard, mes amis.

Notes

Glavine has gotten it done again, allowing only 2 runs through 6. The wheels started to rattle in the top of the sixth, but Cliff Floyd hosed D'Angelo Jimenez at home plate to preserve the 4-2 lead. It's Cliffy's fifth outfield assist, tying him with Reggie Sanders for best among all left fielders.

Piazza is 2-2 with a double that just barely stayed in the park. David Wright just swiped third for his first SB of the season - and Matsui drives him in with a clean base hit! Follow that up with a botched double-play grounder by Jimenez, and the home team is looking like a real good bet to put this series to sleep.