Did you know the Mets have the best opening day win percentage in baseball? If you did not, it is true, the Mets have gone 30-17 for an opening day winning percentage of .638… that’s the best in the league.
Baseball has finally started and we are 1-0, defeating Cincinnati 2 to 1 in what was a cleanly played and reassuring game at Great American Ball Park. Can we keep the streak alive? 2-0 ? 5-0 ?? 10-0 ??? Only time will tell, but the Amazins showed much promise, especially in the bullpen. There was much preseason chatter on the health of Mets ace Johan Santana’s elbow. All negative reports (including the potential for an MRI) seem to have been premature and speculative. Santana practiced and played throughout preseason and frustrated eager batters for the Reds this Monday at the season opener.
With seven strike outs and one earned run over 5.2 innings, Santana has begun paying dividends on his groundbreaking 137.5 (guaranteed) million dollar contract which extends until 2013 with an option for 2014. Lets all pray now that Johan doesn’t turn into a Rick DiPietro, the New York Islanders goalie who signed a record 67.5 million dollar 15 year contract only to play a hand full of games since a string of injuries beginning in March of 08′.
More hope came from J.J. Putz, Sean Green and Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez (K-Rod) who recorded his first save with the Metropolitans. Combined, they pitched for 3 and change no-hit innings to protect the lead and secure this seasons first win.
K-Rod celebrates after closing for first save ever in Mets uniform.
Offensively, Daniel Murphy led the way with a solo home run off of Aaron Harang who started for the Reds to get the Mets on the board. Later on in the sixth, Murphy drove in a run on a ground out to take the lead. On the negative, we left a staggering 12 runners on base. However, being it the first game I will not harp on the subject and hope it will not be a trend.
I could not ask for anything more at this point. We had a solid start and recorded our first W on the season. I mean things could have been much worse, just ask the Philies and Pinstripes about their splendid opening day performances!
Murphy rounds home after solo bomb in fifth.
