Blame it on the cold, but it was difficult to get a good grip on Mike Pelfrey's performance in tonight's 3-2 win over the Nationals. There were times Pelfrey got the ground balls he needed -- three double plays -- but he also struggled with his command with four walks. Aside from the RBI single to Chris Snelling, with the pitcher on deck, most of the reviews were positive.
"I think Pelfrey gave us just what we needed," said closer Billy Wagner, who picked up his third save.
Added manager Willie Randolph, "He grinded it out for the most part. He kept us in the game under tough conditions."
The bullpen provided a big lift, too. Pedro Feliciano, Aaron Heilman, Scott Schoeneweis and Wagner combined for 3 1/3 scoreless innings. Wagner notched his 327th save to move into sole possession of 10th place on the all-time list. John Wetteland is next with 330.
Other leftovers:
-- David Wright, who extended his hitting streak to 22 games, is the first player since 1962 to end one season with a streak of at least 10 games and start the next year with another. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Curt Flood ended the 1961 season with a 12-game streak and began 1962 with a 17-game streak. Dick Groat also hit safely in his last 13 games of 1961 and began 1962 with a 13-game streak.
-- Jose Reyes now has eight stolen bases against the Nats John Patterson, his most against any pitcher.
-- Pelfrey, at 23, is the youngest Mets pitcher to make an April start since 1996, when a pair of 23-year-olds, Jason Isringhausen and Paul Wilson, each made five starts. (courtesy Elias Sports Bureau).
Comments (2)
PELFRY NEEDS A HAIRCUT.
David Lennon, put down the DICE-K jersey for one moment and riddle me this.
Paul Wilson...are the Mets going to give him a courtesy look, a minor league deal? He was our draft pick. Who knows he might be the kind of guy who can come in and make a few starts for us. Oliver Perez , has he considered the sports therapist that Trachsel and Leiter used?