Just Mets

The Mets won their sixth consecutive game, defeating the Marlins 4-1 on Friday night. Here are my takeaways from tonight’s win at Citi Field…

Bartolo Colon did it again…with the bat.

It was ten years between RBI for Colon before last Sunday. Now, it’s five days between RBI. He tied the game with a sac fly with the bases loaded in the fifth inning. It wasn’t pretty, but then again it was because it’s Bartolo Colon and he’s swinging a bat and finding a way to be productive at opportunistic times.

Colon’s pitching was extremely impressive as well.

Colon gave up a solo homer to Giancarlo Stanton in the first inning. But everyone seems to do that, so that’s ok, especially since nobody was on-base in front of him. Much like he was last Sunday he was incredibly efficient from start to finish, painting the corners with fastball after fastball and didn’t walk a single batter once again – he’s issued only one walk in 20 innings over his first three starts. He mixed in the occasional change-up and actually recorded a strikeout of Michael Morse with that pitch early.

He cruised all night, as he’s done for the most part over his first three starts. With each outing, he amazes me even more, and he’s very entertaining to watch.

Juan Lagares’ glove played a huge role in this game.

Lagares’ defense is incredible, and it always seems to be timely as well. He made a big catch in the top of the seventh inning with two on and one out, plus two more early in the game to take extra bases away from Miami. He’s struggled so far offensively (although he did single and score a big run tonight), but defense doesn’t slump, his in particular, and tonight he saved the Mets on several occasions.

Michael Cuddyer is striking out a lot, but he’s also being very productive.

Cuddyer has struck out 15 times in 44 plate appearances so far this season. That’s unusually high, especially for him. But he’s also being very productive lately. He went 1-for-3 on Friday night, his one hit driving in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning and extending his hitting streak to six games. He’s got six strikeouts during the streak, but he’s hitting .400 with six RBI during that span as well.

The Mets are doing the little things to win games.

The Mets situational hitting has been outstanding lately, especially tonight. In the midst of their rally, they made productive outs, went first to third on a couple of occasions, and drove two runs home with sacrifice flies. This is how offense in the game has evolved in the power-starved era, and the Mets are completely embracing that philosophy during the early part of this season.

MAYBE Daniel Murphy is coming out of his funk?

He made a productive out in the sixth inning which ultimately led to the third run, and drove home Cuddyer with a well struck double in the eighth. He was 5-for-36 to start the season before the double, which is atypical for a hitter as good as Murphy, and I wonder if he got derailed by his hamstring injury and he’s been forced to find a way early in this season. He’ll come around eventually – maybe his double in the eighth inning is what he needs dot get rolling.

And, this is what Citi Field sounds like when the team is having fun out there.

And, it sounds awesome. The stadium has a new energy and a new feel this season. The fans are into every pitch, they’re excited, and they’re hungry, and the team so far has given them their money’s worth. It’s nice to finally have so much positive energy and good feelings in this beautiful ballpark…

Other notes from Friday night:

With the win, the Mets extended their winning streak to six games, the longest since 2011.

The Mets 5-0 start at Citi Field is the longest winning streak to open the home schedule since 2005.

It was the fourth consecutive come-from-behind win for the Mets.

Jerry Blevins pitched a flawless eighth inning – he’s retired every batter he’s faced this season, and in retiring two left-handers tonight, they’re 0-for-12 against him this season.

Jeurys Familia recorded his fifth save of the year with a 1-2-3 dominant ninth inning. All of his saves have come since last Sunday.

Daniel Muno recorded his first big league hit in the seventh inning.