Schwei By The Numbers: Mets' Sweet 15
By John Schweibacher
Mike Pelfrey won his 15th game of the season this past Thursday against the Pirates. Pelfrey is the 10th right-handed pitcher in Mets history to record 15 or more wins in a year. Here are the 10 Mets righties who posted at least one 15 or more win season:
•Tom Seaver (8) 1967-73 & 1975
•Dwight Gooden (6) 1984-88 & 1990
•Ron Darling (3) 1985-86 & 1988
•Steve Trachsel (2) 2003 & 2006
•David Cone (1) 1988
•Bobby Jones (1) 1997
•Rick Reed (1) 1998
•Pedro Martinez (1) 2005
•John Maine (1) 2007
•Mike Pelfrey (1) 2010
Coincidentally, 10 lefthanders in Mets history have had at least 15 wins in a single season. Here are the Mets lefties who posted at least 15 wins in one season:
•Jerry Koosman (4) 1968-69, 1974 & 1976
•Jon Matlack (3) 1972, 1975-76
•Al Leiter (3) 1998, 2000 & 2003
•Bob Ojeda (1) 1986
•Sid Fernandez (1) 1986
•Frank Viola (1) 1990
•Mike Hampton (1) 2000
•Tom Glavine (1) 2006
•Oliver Perez (1) 2007
•Johan Santana (1) 2008
The Mets trailed the Pirates, 5-0, in the 4th inning last Wednesday night but rallied for an 8-7 win. It was the 3rd time in 2010 that the Mets fell behind by five or more runs in a game at Citi Field but were able to come from behind and win. On May 11th, the Mets beat the Nationals, 8-6, after falling behind, 6-1, in the 5th and on June 6th, the Mets erased a 5-0 Marlins lead in the 6th and came away with a 7-6 win.
The last time the Mets had three such come-from-behind wins at home was back in 1978. Here are the details of those three comeback wins:
•May 21st, 1978: Mets fall behind the eventual NL East champion Phillies, 5-0, in the top of the 1st with Jerry Koosman on the mound but rally to tie the game before winning it 6-5 on Steve Henderson's RBI double in the 10th.
•June 5th, 1978: Down 8-2 in the 3rd to the eventual pennant-winning Dodgers, the Mets score seven unanswered runs, including three in the 9th on a Tim Foli two-run double and shortstop Bill Russell's error.
•September 14th, 1978: The Expos build a 6-0 3rd inning lead but the Mets score twice in the 3rd and 4th innings and take the lead for good in the 6th on Ed Kranepool's three-run, pinch-hit homer. The 7-6 victory is the final career win for reliever Mardie Cornejo.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, last Monday night's, 1-0, win over the Pirates was the Mets' 10th straight in a game which was scoreless through nine innings. The last time the Mets lost a game which was 0-0 after nine was back on July 15th, 1994, a 2-1, 14-inning loss to the Padres at Shea Stadium. Tony Gwynn and Phil Plantier broke open the scoreless tie with solo home runs in the top of the 14th. David Segui got one run back for the Mets with a RBI double in the bottom of the inning but the rally fell short.
Here are the 10 Mets wins since then in games which were 0-0 heading into extra innings and how each game was won:
•10/1/95 1-0 (11) vs. Atlanta. Bogar bases loaded walk in 11th.
•3/31/98 1-0 (14) vs. Philadelphia. Castillo RBI single in 14th.
•4/12/01 1-0 (10) vs. Atlanta. Orodonez RBI single in 10th.
•7/7/01 3-0 (10) at Yankees. 3 run 10th with 2 outs vs Rivera.
•4/13/05 1-0 (11) vs. Houston. Reyes RBI single in 11th.
•5/31/06 1-0 (13) vs. Atlanta. Chavez RBI single in 13th.
•7/26/06 1-0 (10) vs. Chicago. Valentin RI single in 10th.
•4/24/07 2-1 (12) vs. Colorado. Easley pinch HR ties game in 10th. Chavez RBI bunt single wins it in 12th.
•4/17/10 2-1 (20) at St. Louis. 1 in in 19th, 1 in 20th.
•9/13/10 1-0 (10) vs. Pittsburgh. Evans RBI single in 10th.
The Mets will make their final road trip of 2010 this week as they face the Florida Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies. The Mets are winless in the Sunshine State so far this season, having been swept by the Marlins in a four-game series in Florida back in May. The Mets dropped two of three against the Marlins in Puerto Rico in their only other meeting away from Citi Field in late June.
The Phillies have won both of their home series against the Mets so far this season, taking two of three at Citizens Bank Park in early May and again last month. Despite their struggles away from home this season, the Mets begin this week's trip with a road record of 30 and 46, already topping last year's 29 and 52 record away from Citi Field.
Schwei's Runs, Hits and Errors:
Runs: 1st MLB Homers. Lucas Duda becomes 6th Met in 2010 to hit first career home run, joining Ike Davis, Chris Carter, Johan Santana, Josh Thole and Ruben Tejada. That matches a club record set in 2004 when Kaz Matsui, Eric Valent, David Wright, Jeff Keppinger, Victor Diaz and Craig Brazell all hit their first big league homers.
Hits: Mets Pitchers. Not on the mound but at the plate where they hepled their own causes by hitting safely in 9 out of 10 games from September 7th through 17th.
Errors: Can't beat Braves. Atlanta's weekend sweep at Citi Field gave the Braves their 12th season series win over Mets in last 13 years.
