The Mets came into Philadelphia Monday, still reeking of champagne and cigars, fresh off their National League East title celebration.
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Considering the game was moved up seven hours due to a threat of rain, the first time the Phillies did that since the 2003 season, the Mets rested several regulars despite them trying to lock down home field advantage for the postseason. Los Angeles plays late Thursday afternoon at San Francisco.
“He’s getting hot at the right time”, Mets manager Terry Collins said of Duda. As we’ve tried to say all year long, we can’t worry about today. “It’s over. Focus on tomorrow”.
The time for the clinching hangover is over, however, as the Mets return to Citi Field to face the Nationals this weekend. The biggest area of concern is Yoenis Cespedes who left Wednesday’s game with bruised fingers after being hit by a pitch. “It’ll be nice if we can eliminate the 2015 team from that milestone, but we’re just trying to go out and play hard and win a few games”. All it would take is one win in the three-game season finale series against the Miami Marlins to do that… or even a rainout cancellation Friday, which nearly appears likely.
The announced attendance of 13,238 was a record low at Citizens Bank Park, but less than half that number was a more accurate estimate of how many fans actually braved the windy, damp conditions.
Eickhoff was ably supported by Jerome Williams and Luis Garcia (save), while an Andres Blanco home run in the eighth iced the chilly game. It remains to be seen if he has the stuff to be a true full-time player, but heading into next season, manager Pete Mackanin might at least want to see if Ruf can offer more as a power option from the right side of the plate not only against lefties, but in situations where Howard might see more bench time than he’s accustomed. Jerad Eickhoff will get the start as he is 2-3 with a 3.07 ERA on the season. Jee-rad gave up two non-Nieuwenhuis hits, struck out 10 Mets and gave up no runs over seven innings.
“As a competitor, I’m not wanting to come out there”, Eickhoff said. “I think that is something we really need to bear down these last three games and try to attain”. Ruf followed by hammering a 3-2 slider down into the left-field seats, giving Philadelphia a 2-0 lead. Dario Alvarez later surrendered a home run to a righty, but he looked fine coming back from a groin injury.
Eickhoff was widely considered the fourth-best prospect of the five the Phillies received when they sent Cole Hamels and Jake Diekman to Texas in July. After that sweep, the Mets wrapped up their road trip with a four game sweep of their own in Atlanta to further separate themselves from the Nationals. That’s three players who developed back discomfort this week, including Steven Matz. And Wilmer Flores’ back remained “pretty stiff”, according to Collins. He might not be ready Friday…. Franco has been on the DL with a broken left wrist since August. 18.
Mets: RHP Noah Syndergaard (9-7, 3.34) starts the opener of a three-game series against Washington.
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It all started with the Yankees, who got walloped by the Red Sox at the Stadium by a score of 10-4.
