The Mets (14-9) went into Philadelphia on Friday night and took the first game of their 3 game series with the Phillies (12-10) by force. The Mets had 8 extra base hits including 4 home runs. Not only that, but Jon Niese took the mound and threw an absolute ge7 m. He went 7 innings, giving up 1 run on 4 hits and striking out 7, picking up his first win of the season as the sun set on April. 

Jeff Francoeur was 1-2 on the night, but his impact on the game goes beyond that. He made an outstanding catch in the 2nd inning to minimize the damage the Phillies were able to do. He homered obviously, and he was also hit by a pitch. He would ultimately leave the game as a result of it. In the 8th inning, Jenrry Mejia, intentionally or not, hit Chase Utley. Some may consider it retaliation. If that was the case, then hats off to Mejia. I think Mets fans would love to see it. Francoeur has a left elbow contusion, and he's day-to-day. After the game though, he made it sound like he will do everything in his power to play, he doesn't want to miss a game in Philly against Halladay. Love it.

To say the Phillies had some trouble tonight on the mound may be an understatement. Kyle Kendrick did not pitch well at all, giving up a 3 spot in the 2nd inning on home runs by David Wright and Jeff Francoeur. He would give up 4 on the night, plus the bullpen gave up another 5. The bats didn't really supply too much help beyond the 2nd inning when extra base hits were stolen from them on two seperate occasions.

To discuss tonight's game, click here. To see the box score, click here.

Hitting:

• David Wright, Jeff Francoeur and Rod Barajas each homered in the game, Barajas had 2.
• The Mets had 8 extra base hits, including 3 doubles and 1 triple.
• Pagan, after a shaky start, when on to be a home run away from the cycle.
• Going back to Barajas, he also doubled in the game, returning to Philadelphia where he played a short part of his career.

Pitching:

• Jon Niese was outstanding tonight. He pitched through the 7 inning, only the 4th time a Mets starter did so this season. We'll need to see more of that to see continued success from the pitching.
• Jenrry Mejia came in to the game in the 8th, giving up a single and hitting Chase Utley. He promptly struck out Ryan Howard with a slider in the dirt to get out of the jam. Manny Acosta mopped up in the 9th. 
• Niese's season ERA is now at 3.10, a very strong number for the young lefty. He's really stepped up in a big way so far this season as the team's #3 starter. To have a performance like that in as important a game as any game can be on April 30th is just fantastic.

MVP:

Man, a lot of players came to play tonight, but none more so than Jon Niese. He was absolutely outstanding. Of course he got help on defense in his 1 shaky inning, but every strong pitching performance usually has a few. Barajas and Franceour were both fantastic as well, offensively and defensively. 

Next game:

The Mets continue their series against the Phillies tomorrow at 3:10 PM. You can find the game on FOX and WFAN. Mike Pelfrey (4-0, 0.69 ERA) will be taking on Roy Halladay (4-1, 1.80 ERA) in one of the absolute best early season matchups we've had so far in all of baseball. 

Final Thoughts:

• What a fantastic performance top to bottom for the Mets. Just about everyone contributed. To see them come and play the way they did against the defending NL champions is great to see. The Mets are obviously on a hot streak right now, but if they can keep it up and play anywhere near the level they're playing at for an extended period of time, the Mets will be able to compete for this divison.
• I am PSYCHED for the Pelfrey/Halladay matchup. It's going to be amazing. And after seeing what the Mets did tonight, I believe they can win that game as well. Obviously, they'll be playing for the series win tomorrow. It would mean so much to fans to take the series tomorrow and have the chance to sweep with our ace on the mound.
• Brad Lidge made his return tonight. He was not good. He made only 1 out, while giving up a home run to Rod Barajas in the process. The Phillies bullpen continues to be a mess. And you know something, their problems are starting to resemble the problems the Mets have had the past few years. Enigmatic bullpen, mediocre rotation outside 1 great starter, tons of injuries. I feel your pain Philly, but I'm not so sorry to say, I don't feel even a little bad for them. The Mets dealt with it, so will the Phillies.

According to Chris Carlin on SNY's postgame, RF Jeff Francouer will be day to day with an elbow contusion after getting plunked in todays game.

Francouer had a good, limited game. Jeff went 1-2 with a solo HR, 2 runs, a stolen base and after being hit at the plate he was replaced in the game by Gary Matthews Jr.

Francouer also made a great catch at the wall – he went up for a catch at the RF wall and ended up hitting his knee into the out-of-town scoreboard, but he seemed ok afterward.

Adam Rubin reports that first baseman Daniel Murphy played five innings in an extended Spring Training game.

No reason to rush Murphy back. Let him get 100% healthy, let him get some playing time, and only bring him up when he is ready.

When he comes back, I would imagine the Mets would designate Frank Catalanotto for assignment. Murphy would certainly be an improve over Catalanotto, and would give the Mets much more depth off the bench.

Murphy would also provide a solid substitute for Ike Davis whenever the Mets wish to give him a rest.

Adam Rubin reports that relief pitcher Sean Green had a broken rib.

Green, who pitched one inning this year and gave up two hits and a run, was put on the 15-day DL for a strained right rib cage. Turns out, his rib was actually broken.

Though I hate to see a guy get injured, I really didn't want Green on this roster anyway. It isn't clear how much longer Green will be out for, but I would imagine a break is worse than a strain.

	New York Mets (13-9) @ Philadelphia Phillies (12-9)
Citizens Bank Park	———

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Weather Forecast

Pitching Match-Up

Mets Lineup

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Phillies Lineup

Mets Injury Report

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Phillies Injury Report

What To Watch For

• David Wright became the club’s all-time leader with his 226th career double on April 28 vs. Los Angeles…He moved ahead of Ed Kranepool on the list…Only two other current players hold their team’s club doubles record: Colorado’s Todd Helton and Tampa Bay’s Carl Crawford…Wright achieved the feat in 869 games while it took Kranepool 1,853 games to get to 225.
• David Wright collected his 1,000th hit on April 27 vs. LA in his 868th game … Wright had 143 home runs at the time of his 1,000th hit…Only three players have recorded their first 1,000 hits for a New York team in as few games while having as many home runs as Wright: Babe Ruth (795 G, 255 HR), Lou Gehrig (826 G, 165 HR), and Joe DiMaggio (711 G, 173 HR) … Research courtesy of the Elias Sports Bureau.
• David Wright has 11 career home runs at Citizens Bank Park, equaling his highest total in any visiting ballpark…Wright also has 11 home runs at Turner Field.
• Jose Reyes – Since 2005, the Mets are 256-106 (.707) when he scores a run.
• Jose Reyes has hit safely in eight of his last nine games and is hitting .343 (12-35) with nine runs scored over this span.
• Jason Bay is hitting .344 (11-32) with a .475 OBP in his last 10 games…Has an RBI in each of his last three games.
• Fernando Tatis Is hitting .667 (4-6) as a pinch hitter this season with one home run and three RBI.
• Ike Davis – The Mets are 9-1 in his first 10 games…The only other active player with that much early success is Hideki Matsui with the 2003 Yankees.
• The Mets are tied for the major league lead with Washington with 10 triples…Jason Bay is tied for second in the majors with three triples…Bay’s career-high in triples is six set in 2005 with Pittsburgh …Jose Reyes hit his 75th career triple on April 21 in his 804th career game…Among players who debuted in the major leagues since 1950, only one reached 75 triples in fewer games than Reyes: Garry Templeton, who got his 75th triple in his 787th game…Info courtesy of Elias Sports Bureau.
• Jon Niese struck out six in 5.1 innings, but received a no-decision in the Mets’ 3-1 win over Atlanta on April 24 at Citi Field…Allowed five hits and five walks, but stranded five runners in scoring position…Tied his career high with 116 pitches.
• Jon Niese has limited opposing hitters to a .182 (6-33) batting average with runners in scoring position this season, good for ninth best in the NL among qualifiers (minimum 25 at-bats with runners in scoring positons)…With two outs in the same situation, Niese is even tougher, allowing just two hits in 16 at-bats (.125).
• Jon Niese has allowed a total of 43 base runners in his 22.0 innings pitched this season for an average of 17.59 per nine innings…That mark is the third-highest in the majors among pitchers with at least 20.0 innings pitched…Teammate John Maine is fourth at 17.47.
• Francisco Rodriguez has recorded 16 strikeouts in 10.2 innings this year and has thrown 5.2 scoreless innings in his last five outings.
• Pedro Feliciano has moved into sole possession of third place on the club’s all-time list with with 377 outings on 4/24 vs. ATL…Tom Seaver is second on the list with 401 games.
• Pedro Feliciano has pitched in 12 of New York’s 22 games…Has stranded all six inherited runners…Lefties are hitting .067 (1-15) off him…Retired 11 of 12 first batters faced.
• Fernando Nieve  has pitched in 14 of New York’s 21 games…Is second in the majors in appearances…Stranded 10 of 11 inherited runners…Notched his fourth hold with 1.1 shutout frames on 4/28 vs. LA…Hasn’t allowed a run in his last 5.1 innings.
• Hisanori Takahashi leads all major league relievers with 21 strikeouts…Takahashi is averaging 13.19 strikeouts per nine innings…He is tied for fourth in the majors with two wins in relief and ranks fifth in innings pitched with 14.1.
• Jenrry Mejia has thrown 6.0 scoreless innings dating back to 4/16 and is unscored in eight of his 10 appearances.
• The Mets pitching staff has recorded a 3.06 ERA, the fourth-lowest mark in the majors…The staff has four shutouts, tied for the major league lead with San Francisco and San Diego and also leads the majors with 183 strikeouts, four more than the Padres, who are in second.
• The Mets pitching staff has surrendered three unearned runs, which is tied for the third-fewest in the majors with the Twins and Nationals…The Reds and Rays are tied for fewest permitting two unearned runs.
• Over their last 14 games, the Mets starting staff has fashioned a 1.59 ERA (14 earned runs/79.0 innings)…New York starters are 6-1 during the span while the team is 11-3…The Mets starting staff is fifth in the National League and eighth in the majors with a 3.43 ERA (46 earned runs/120.2 innings).
• New York’s bullpen has recorded the third-lowest ERA in the majors (2.51)…Only Detroit (2.22) and Colorado (2.45) have lower marks…The pen has held opponents to a .198 batting average, the third lowest mark in the majors…The pen has won five games, which is tied for second in the majors while the relievers four losses are tied for 12th in the majors.

This Date in Mets History

Ron Swoboda cracks a solo home run and Don Cardwell makes it stand up in a 1-0 victory vs. Philadelphia on April 30, 1968…Swoboda finishes the month with seven home runs and 16 RBI…John Stearns wallops his first major league home run off Ray Burris in a 7-4 loss to the Cubs on April 30, 1974…Dave Kingman cracks his 300th career home run at San Francisco on April 30, 1982…Darryl Strawberry collects five hits, including a two-run home run and drives in three runs in an 8-1 victory at Atlanta on April 30, 1986.

It's Bob Hendley birthday born in 1939. Lou Niss passed in 1987.

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