It's tough to win when you strand 18 runners in two games, but that's what happened to the 2nd-seed Mets in being beaten by the Giants for the second straight night, this time 5-0 at New Scotland Wednesday night.
Jerry Solomon went 6-plus tension-filled innings, allowing manager JimK's hair to get even more gray than it already is. But with a spectacular defense and timely hitting, the Giants advanced to the semifinal round for the second straight year with the two-game sweep. And the Giants felt as much pressure to win this game as the Mets did simply because we didn't want to go to Game 3 and face Chris Dunn again on Friday.
Solomon wiggled out of jams most of the night. Solomon had just two strikeouts and walked three. He also hit two batters, both times leading off innings late in the game. And with the bases loaded and one out in the 6th, Mike Hicks turned in a game-saving 6-3 double play on a slow, high chopper to end that threat.
Hicks looked more like Reyes in covering the ground he did on pop-ups and grounders to each side of him all night long. He also drove in a run and scored twice.
Jim Keegan led the offensive charge with a key 2-run single that highlighted a 3-run third to give the Giants a 4-0 lead. He then gave the Giants a huge insurance run with a 2-out single to right to plate Hicks in the bottom of the 6th.
LFer Mike Aiello snared a wicked line drive in the second inning to save the Giants a run in the second inning. Then in the 6th, the Mets kept the pressure on with runners on first and second with one out. The next Mets hitter blooped one that appeared would fall in for a hit, but the hustle by Jim Keegan at 2nd base froze the runner at first, and as the ball tipped off Keegan's glove, Steve Lounello was there to pick it up and fire a strike to Hicks for the force, essentially ending the threat.
In the 7th, the Mets were at it again. Solomon walked Jim Bonaparte to lead off the inning before a line drive single to left put runners on first and second with no outs. In came reliever Dick Stark. Stark induced a grounder that got a force at 2nd for the first out. With runners on first and third, the next Met's hitter hit a soft liner to ,Keegan and the runner at first was caught too far off the bag and Keegan fired to first for the game-ending DP.
The 10th-seed Giants now face the A's-Marlins winner in the best-of-3 semis beginning Monday at a site to be determined.
I can now say this: I totally had the Mets getting to the finals this year. Those guys are big, quick and can flat out hit. The breaks simply went our way in this series.
Congratulations to Bones and the rest of the Mets on a great season. I know that it stings now, and it will take some time to sink in, but you all should take great pride in that you were the second best team over twenty games. It says alot about those guys who showed up night in and night out over the long haul. Great season!
Congrats to the Giants on there victory, as they played as good defense , that you probably imagine. Mike Hicks caught a ball in mid left field on a pop up that most times in this league is defintely a hit. He turned double plays, and scored runs. All I can say is Jimmy is right, we counted 22 stranded runners in the 2 games. Yes Mike it really stings, But we will be back next year to continue the fight. Good luck to all on an exciting finish. I want to thank all my Mets teammates for a exciting and rewarding year. Jim Bonaparte Mets
