Final
Santana, Mets continue trek toward postseason
Sep 23, 2008 - 1:27 PM CHI CUBS (95-60) AT NY METS (86-70), 7:10pm EDTFLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- It looks like the National League wild card may be as good as it's going to get for the New York Mets, but even that isn't set in stone. Now in the final week of the regular season, the Mets have six more days to try to secure their second playoff berth in the last eight years.
Clinging to a one-game lead in the wild card race, the Mets will send their ace to the hill on Tuesday night for the second game of a four-game series with the Chicago Cubs as they try to snap a three-game losing streak.
All-Star lefthander Johan Santana (14-7, 2.65 ERA) gets the call as the Mets try to hold off the Milwaukee Brewers (85-71) in the wild-card hunt. The Mets still have a shot at an NL East title, as well, but are 2 1/2 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies (89-68).
Though he has come away with a slew of no-decisions during his first season in New York, Santana has been every bit the ace he was acquired to be - especially over the last two months, during which he has been as dominant and as consistent as any pitcher in the game. Not only has he not lost since June 28, but he has given up three runs or less in each of his last 12 starts.
In his last outing, a 7-2 win over the Washington Nationals last Thursday, he worked seven strong innings, giving up one run and eight hits while striking out eight. But this will be his first look at a Cubs team he could very well see in the playoffs.
He has one career start against them, which came two years ago during interleague play when Santana was still pitching for the Minnesota Twins. He held the Cubs to one run and five hits over eight innings.
Tuesday was expected to be a dream matchup between Santana and Cubs righthander Rich Harden, but his start was pushed back to Thursday in the series finale. In his place will be lefthander Sean Marshall (3-4, 3.62), who tossed six innings of one-run ball in his last start.
- NL
FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CHICAGO CUBS 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 9 1
NY METS 0 0 0 0 2 4 0 0 x 6 9 0 (FINAL)
BATTERIES: CHN - SEAN MARSHALL, CHAD GAUDIN (6TH), KEVIN HART (6TH), ANGEL
GUZMAN (7TH) AND HENRY BLANCO
NYM - JOHAN SANTANA, PEDRO FELICIANO (9TH), LUIS AYALA
(9TH) AND RAMO
Sep 23 9:58 PM - NL
AT NY METS - SCORING UPDATE
TRIPLE BY JOSE REYES SCORED RYAN CHURCH, DANIEL MURPHY AND
JOHAN SANTANA.
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, J REYES ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 2
NY METS 6 BOTTOM, 6TH
DUE UP FOR NY METS: L CASTILLO (.247, 0-FOR-2, BB)
Cubs 2, Mets 6 Bot 6, 0 OutsSep 23 9:00 PM - NL
AT NY METS - SCORING UPDATE
ERROR BY CHAD GAUDIN ALLOWED CARLOS DELGADO TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, R CASTRO ON FIRST, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 2
NY METS 3 BOTTOM, 6TH
DUE UP FOR NY METS: R CHURCH (.280, 0-FOR-2)
Cubs 2, Mets 3 Bot 6, 0 OutsSep 23 8:50 PM - NL
AT NY METS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY DAVID WRIGHT SCORED NICK EVANS AND JOHAN SANTANA.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, D WRIGHT ON FIRST, L CASTILLO ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 2
NY METS 2 BOTTOM, 5TH
DUE UP FOR NY METS: C BELTRAN (.281, 0-FOR-2)
Cubs 2, Mets 2 Bot 5, 0 OutsSep 23 8:31 PM - NL
AT NY METS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY REED JOHNSON SCORED RONNY CEDENO.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, R JOHNSON ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 2
NY METS 0 TOP, 3RD
DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: M DEROSA (.284, 0-FOR-1)
Cubs 2, Mets 0 Top 3, 0 OutsSep 23 7:52 PM - NL
AT NY METS - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY KOSUKE FUKUDOME SCORED CASEY MCGEHEE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, K FUKUDOME ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 1
NY METS 0 TOP, 2ND
DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: H BLANCO (.280, 3 HR, 12 RBI)
Cubs 1, Mets 0 Top 2, 0 OutsSep 23 7:33 PM
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