Most would wonder why Pena had to even step in today, well before Friday’s game even got started some sports reporters were on hand to witness a moment that would make most Yankees fans heart drop. As All-Star third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who was shagging baseballs during batting practice was drilled by a Lance Berkman ball. The ball made a bee line for Rodriguez’s leg and would leave the slugger on the ground for a good five minutes before paramedics and trainers could attend to the injury.

“I hit it and obviously had a great view of it. I was just [saying], ‘Look out!’” said Berkman who was taking some right-handed at bats at the time. The switch hitter continued by saying, “It was on him. I just remember hitting it and cringing. It was headed right for him. It was hard. I hope he’s not out very long.”

The newly acquired designated hitter felt bad saying, “I just told him when he was coming off the field, ‘Sorry about that.’ I clearly didn’t mean to it wasn’t like I was trying to hit him. That is just one of those things about batting practice. I think we’ve all been hit before.”

Rodriguez finally got up and walked slowly into the New York dugout, to get X-Rays which later turned out to be negative. Thankfully for the 49,716 in attendance Ramiro Pena stepped in and has done what he has all season long, produce with runners in scoring position. Pena who has hit safely in five of his last eight starts, going 7-for-25 for a .280 batting average, with four runs batted in and three runs in those contest.

In Friday’s huge start against the Red Sox Pena was 1-for-3 while driving in two runs. The second run that Pena drove in gave the Yankees the 5-2 lead and the eventually victory. There were other highlights in same game as the utility player put on a display of speed and fine defensive plays helping to turn several ground ball outs for New York.

“Pena has done a tremendous job for us this season,” manager Joe Girardi said of his young utility player after the game. “He has done a really good job for us in many key situations without getting much playing time and it is amazing to see.”

The utility player had this to say of his performance today, “I feel good about it, it was good to be given the opportunity, and it’s tough because of Alex’s injury. You just want to help the team win and that is it-that is my job.”

Pena along with a fifth-inning rally helped to propel the Yankees to a huge Game Two victory over the Red Sox. As the team now improves to 2-3 on their current home stand, that coupled with Tampa Bay’s loss to Toronto helps to extend the Yankees lead in the American League East to 1.5 games.

Also monumental in the victory today was the pitching of lefty C. C. Sabathia, who in recording his 150^th win of his career, benefited from not only a day off but a birth in his family. The starter went eight innings that were of the grind it out variety, giving up six hits, striking out four batters while only giving up two runs one walk and one home run. Two of the biggest strike outs for Sabathia in today’s game were both against designated hitter David Ortiz.

“Sabathia is a guy with a high winning percentage,” Girardi said after the game. “He eats up a lot of innings so usually the bullpen isn’t going to be used on most of the days that he starts.

For Sabathia he was able to snap a two-game losing streak, while winning for the 10^th time in his last 13 starts. The lefty is now undefeated in his last 18 starts at Yankee Stadium since the 2009 All-Star Break, going 13-0 with a 2.25 ERA.

“Sabathia really stepped it up for us today, he only gave up two runs in that first inning and for the most part he shut them down,” Girardi said after the game. “This Boston team still has a lot of dangerous bats and for the most part he was able to shut them down.” The manager would continue to say, “C. C. is a really special pitcher. Who knows maybe by getting this win today he will be on a roll now.”

When asked after the game how he felt the lefty had this to say, “I feel good, my fastball was working today along with my secondary stuff. Overall my command was good and it helped us get the win.” The lefty would also go on to say about the extra day, “It did help, it is an exciting week for us and I am glad to have been able to go out there and get us the win.”

On his milestone Sabathia said, “It is very cool and is something that I will celebrate later on. Right now I am worried about the next start and continue to pitch like I did today.”

Also contributing to the Yankees offense in the victory over the Red Sox was outfielder Curtis Granderson. Who before the game started Girardi had hoped would start to go on a hitting streak. Well nothing starts a hitting streak better than a 2-for-4 day, which includes a hard hit triple (8) off the center field bullpen wall, to set the stage for Pena. The utility player would hit a ground out which would plate Granderson and tie the score 2-2 in that inning.

New York would have that bottom of the fifth-inning rally, as four batters all were able to lace singles. Nick Swisher, Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano and Jorge Posada were all involved in giving New York a 4-2 lead. Posada was able to steal his first base of the 2010 season during Lance Berkman’s at bat to try to force in another run. Unfortunately for the designated hitter, Berkman continued to struggle and heard some boos from the Yankee Universe.

The Skipper is not concerned about his new acquisition saying, “He seems like an even keel guy, I am sure he (Berkman) has been through slumps before and knows how to work his way out of it.”

Leading the way for the Red Sox was starter John Lackey, who did well but could not make it through a very daunting Yankee lineup. The righty went six innings, giving up eight hits while striking out seven batters. Lackey gave up five runs and walked three in what was a solid outing. The lone offense for the Red Sox came off the bats of Victor Martinez who clubbed a home run (10) to left field over the State Farm sign. Adrian Beltre (2-for-4) ripped a double (33) down the left field line to set the stage for Mike Lowell who would bring Beltre home with a double (6) of his own.

Game three of this four-game series will take place on Sunday, August 8 as righty A.J. Burnett (9-9, 4.93 ERA) takes on righty Josh Beckett (3-1, 5.70 ERA) with the first pitch scheduled for 8:05 p.m. for the ESPN televised game.

Story originally posted on www.latinosports.com

Mets starter Hisanori Takashi (6-3) could not command the plate today in the loss going 4 innings plus four batters, the lefty gave up eight hits, six runs and four walks while also striking out four batters. Tigers’ starter Armando Galarraga (3-1) pitched well in six innings giving up five hits, four runs, and three walks and striking out one batter. Galarraga looked like he would have another no-hitter but the Mets spoiled his plans in the bottom of the fourth inning.

“The important thing for him (Takashi) is his command” Mets manager Jerry Manuel told reporters after the game. “Overall he has pitched well for us, today though it was just the walks and some hard hit balls, but overall he has pitched well for us.”

Magglio Ordonez had a great day at the plate for the Tigers going 2-for-5 and driving in three runs with two of those runs coming on a long home run to left field. Also having a good day at the plate was Ryan Rayburn who was 3-for-3 with one RBI, while hitting a homer as well.  For the Mets David Wright went 2-for-5 with one RBI, while Jason Bay and Ike Davis also contributed with an RBI each.

The Tigers plated their first run in the top of the first inning as leadoff hitter Austin Jackson worked a walk. Rayburn ripped a single to left field to set up runners on first and second for Magglio Ordonez. During Ordonez’s at bat Jackson and Rayburn would steal second and third to have runners in scoring position for the visitors. The duo of Jackson and Rayburn has now swiped 10 consecutive bags against the Mets without being caught. Ordonez could not cash in as Takahashi got him to strike out swinging. Miguel Cabrera was able to plate the first run one batter later as he lifted a sacrifice fly to center field making the score 1-0 Tigers.

Ryan Raburn would work a walk to start top of the third inning, this was when Ordonez lifted his 10^th home run of the season making the score 3-0 in favor of Detroit.

The perfect game was spoilt for the Tigers in the top of the fourth inning as Jesus Feliciano picking up the first double of his career, which was hit over the left fielders reach. David Wright kept the inning alive with a single to left field. Ike Davis grounded into a 6-4-3 double play which scored the Mets first run.

Detroit would answer back in the top of the fifth inning as Raburn would strike with a home run (2) of his own to left field giving the Tigers the 4-1 lead. Back-to-back singles to left field by Ordonez and Miguel Cabrera set the stage for Brennan Boesch who worked a walk to load the bases for Brandon Inge. Mets manager Jerry Manuel then called for righty Elmer Dessens to try to stop the bleeding, but Dessens could not do so at first as he walked Inge which scored the fifth Tiger run. The relief pitcher was able to get Gerald Laird to hit a fly ball to right field before inducing the force out by Danny Worth. Even though there was an out recorded on that play, as Detroit took a 6-1 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth inning that lead would not stand as Jose Reyes worked the walk to start the inning. Jesus Feliciano singled to right field setting up runners on first and second for David Wright who ripped a double (21) to left field cutting the Tiger lead to 6-2. Ike Davis plated the second run that inning as he was able to hit a grounder to the shortstop which plated Feliciano. Jason Bay ripped a single to center field which would make the score 6-4 in favor of the Tigers.

The Mets comeback would not end there as the drama mounted in the bottom of the seventh inning relief pitcher Ramon Santiago would start by hitting Ruben Tejada with a pitch and throw a wild pitch during Chris Carter’s at bat, which moved Tejada over to second base. Carter would cash that run in with a single to right field and make the score 6-5. Tiger manager Jim Leyland would call for former Yankee reliever Phil Coke to slow down the momentum. At first it seemed as if it would not be successful as Feliciano was able to hit an infield single, but the Mets could not cash in as David Wright struck out and Ike Davis flied out to end the inning.

“One of the characteristics of the team is our ability to come back,” Manuel said. “They felt like they can come back on any given night and they kept fighting and I really liked the fight that I had seen from them tonight.”

Both the Tigers and the Mets had chances during the course of the game. The Mets had chances to get the tie and the win, as well as the Tigers having a chance to add on to their lead. In the end though both bullpens did the job of shutting down the other teams offense and the score would stand at 6-5. Pitcher Jose Valverde converted his 17^th straight save opportunity tonight, which dates back to April 9, 2010.

Up next for the Mets is a three game home stand against another tough American League Central foe as the Minnesota Twins come into town. The first game on Friday features Minnesota starter Kevin Slowey (7-4, 4.58 ERA) taking on the Mets ace Mike Pelfrey (9-2, 2.69 ERA) with the first pitch slated at 7:10 p.m.

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Injury Update:  Mets catcher Rod Barajas did not start tonight with a stiff back and Angel Pagan is day-to-day with a muscle spasm.  The team has recalled catcher Josh Thole from Buffalo and optioned lefty Raul Valdes to Buffalo.

“The move was made earlier in the day,” Mets manager Jerry Manuel said after the game. “We wanted to make sure that we were protected and there is a good chance that Thole will start tomorrow.” He continued by saying, “We need to protect our catchers they have been vital to our success and we need to make sure that we are protecting them.”

This story originally posted on www.latinosports.com

“I know that we have to keep Frankie on some type of game regimen and it’s a difficult, difficult decision that you have to deprive a guy of a complete game shutout,” said Manuel about his decision. Dickey once again was superb throwing 97 pitches, allowing four hits and two walks.

He retired 13 consecutive Tiger batters from the fourth inning on.  Again Dickey, now 6-0 proved he will have to be forced out of the Mets starting rotation. And the only way that will happen is if Dickey suddenly loses control of the knuckleball which had the Tigers struggling.

“He’ll have to have a number of bad outings to take him out of the rotation,” admitted Manuel. The 35-year old Dickey who was bypassed in spring training after signing a minor league deal has come up big. He is one of the reasons the Mets are back in contention, and got a spot in the rotation when Oliver Perez and John Maine went on the disabled list.

But why not let Dickey go the route and use your closer with a secure lead in the ninth?  “If we don’t do that,” said Manuel about using Rodriguez, “we fall back into a category of not having him sharp and he needs to be sharp. And we found out if he doesn’t get those innings it becomes very difficult for him to close out games.”

Perhaps the correct answer from Manuel, because the last appearance for Rodriquez out of the pen was last Friday evening when he recorded his 16^th save against the Yankees where he stranded two inherited runners. Rodriguez also made it known before the game, to Manuel that he needed to pitch It was a decision that Dickey accepted when he did not go out for the ninth, even though he would have loved to have finished off the Tigers.

Said, Dickey “I was unsuccessful,” regarding his request to Manuel about taking the mound for the ninth.

But this is a Mets team, and a clubhouse that is unified and will do anything positive that will lead to another win. “Keeping Frankie sharp is going to win us ballgames,” said Dickey the first Mets pitcher to go 6-0 in his first seven starts with the team.  It was also the Mets major league leading 10^th shutout of the year and Dickey has allowed two or fewer earned runs in five of his seven starts.

The Mets, now 11 games over .500 at 41-30 also picked up a game on the Atlanta Braves now trailing them by a half game in the NL east. And once again the Mets got on the board early because of Jose Reyes. He led off the first inning with a triple, but his single and stolen base in the third led to a run off the double from David Wright giving them a 1-0 lead.

New York would add another run in the fifth off Detroit starter and loser Jeremy Bonderman (3-5). They would put three more runs on the board in the seventh. And Reyes, like Angel Pagan the night before, fell short of hitting for the cycle. Besides the single and triple, Reyes hit a two-out solo home run off Bonderman in the fifth, his sixth of the season.

“I feel like I am back for sure,” said Reyes reiterating that he has rebounded from his injury shortened season of last year.  He has scored at least one run in 11 of his last 14 games, and the Mets are 28-7 when Reyes scores at least one run.

Surly he is the catalyst, as has always been known to the Mets lineup.

NOTES:  Angel Pagan who had four runs batted in the night before and was a home run short of the cycle was removed for a pinch hitter in the seventh inning. Jesus Feliciano replaced him and got his first big league RBI on fielder’s choice induced by a groundout.

There is a concern that Pagan, the most consistent hitter in the Mets lineup, could miss some playing time because of spasms in his right side. Manuel will sit down Pagan in the series finale Thursday evening.  “I’ve played through pain before,” said Pagan. “This situation I am trying to be smart to keep playing,” he said realizing that Carlos Beltran will return soon and the Mets will have three spots and four outfielders More so for precautionary reasons…

With the win, the Mets improved to 11-3 in inter league play…David Wright with his RBI, 19 in inter league play, leads the majors in that category… The Mets scored four of their five runs with two outs including a two-out, two-run single by Ike Davis in the seventh…

New York is 26-10 at home and 12-2 over its last three homestands…Ruben Tejada, rumored to be sent down soon when Luis Castillo returns from the disabled list extended his career high hitting streak to seven games with a single in the Mets three-run seventh, He is batting .348 during that span…

Series finale will see (2-1) Armando Galarraga, the near perfect game pitcher taking the mound for Detroit opposing Lefthander Hisanori Takahashi (6-2, 3.13 ERA) who threw six scoreless innings against the Yankees Friday evening…

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

The Nationals moved a game ahead of the Mets, now second place in the National League East standings, and for the second straight game a Mets player, this time Jose Reyes was ejected from the game for disputing a called third strike. Does the lack of hitting, and ejection of David Wright the day before and now Reyes have Mets manager Jerry Manuel frustrated?

“It’s a team concern, no doubt about it,” said Manuel about the lack of getting runs home. His team fanned 11 more times at the plate after 14 were struck out by San Francisco Giants pitching the day before. “We will do what we can to address the approach,” added Manuel. “When situations come, basically breathe and enjoy.”

But the Mets have not been able to enjoy much after an early season eight-game wining streak. The starting pitching has not been effective which ahs taken a toll on their bullpen, though this time against the Nationals there was no opportunity for another blown save.

John Maine gave up two runs on seven hits in six innings giving up back-to back home runs in the third inning to Adam Kennedy and Ryan Zimmerman. The over used Pedro Feliciano, leading National League pitchers out of the pen, gave up a deciding run in the eighth.

As for Reyes getting ejected, which also led to Manuel getting heaved from the game the manager said, “It doesn’t bother me when a guy is passionate what he does.”  But Wright being ejected Sunday in the ninth inning, which left the Mets short, could have caused Jason Bay to play third base had the game gone to extra innings.

The Reyes ejection may have come out of frustration, another close pitch that caught him looking and stranding two more runners on. That left Manuel to say, “Hopefully, when one guy gets that big hit….”  Meaning hitting is contagious as was the case two weeks ago during the wining streak.

It was a run scoring single by Ivan Rodriguez off Felician that became the decisive run.  The veteran Rodriquez, in his first year with Washington, had a 4-for-4 night at the plate and has been instrumental in handling the young Nationals pitching staff.

“What happened in Washington the last couple of years is already over,” said Rodriquez. “This is 2010,” he said. “We have a team. We’re focused now. We play the game now.”  Miguel Batista was the last of five Nationals pitchers and recorded his first save of the season despite giving up a one-out solo home run to Angel Pagan in the ninth.

But as the series continues against the Nationals Tuesday evening, the lack of getting runs home from Jason Bay, David Wright and Jeff Francoeur have to be a continued concern.

“We have good hitters, have a history of good hitters,’ said Manuel. “Hopefully it is a matter of time.” It better be a matter of time, because the Mets as a team are going to need to score runs if they are going to have any type of respectable season.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

“More important to get the win tonight,” commented Soriano who helped the Cubs snap a four game losing streak and assured the Mets from winning their first series of the season,  Soriano got the Cubs lone extra base hit, a double the night before.

Soriano is hitting .464 with three walks, four runs, five doubles, a triple, home run and five runs batted in in his last nine games. He drove in three runs and also had a walk and a triple. “The offense came out tonight I hope tomorrow it will do the same,” he said as the Cubs got 14 hits off Mets pitching,

Olive Perez (0-2) got the loss in his third start of the season for New York.  He went five innings allowing three runs, two of them earned on eight hits. But once again the middle part of the Mets lineup continued to struggle. Jeff Francoeur went 0-for-4, now hitless in his last 22 at bats. Jason Bay did get a hit and reached base on a walk.  And David Wright did drive in a run but struck out with men on base.

In total the Mets left 12 more runners on base which added to their league high. “Think once they get a few hits, any type of hits, they get it going,” said Mets manager Jerry Manuel who may sit down Bay, Francoeur, or even Wright in the next day or so.

As Manuel explained, regarding the middle part of his lineup,” I don’t see lethargic legs…every now and then a break is good.” That may also mean the plan to drop Jose Reyes to third in the order and putting Angel Pagan in the leadoff spot. Reyes in that hole may produce some offense against the right handed pitching the Mets will see in upcoming home games with the Braves and Dodgers.

Manuel did say he has three different lineups on his desk Wright would like to see his bat going. “It’s our turn to return the favor when they are struggling, a bit,” said Wright.  He was referring to Rod Barajas, Reyes and Luis Castillo who each drove in a run. Barajas hit his third home run of the season in the second inning to left field off Cubs starter Carlos Silva (2-0) who went six innings, giving up two hits and striking out four. Silva has given up two earned runs in his last 19 innings.

The Cubs needed the win, just as more as the Mets needed to start a winning streak. Perez did his best working out of trouble but admitted he did not have his best pitch going for him, “My fastball wasn’t going where I wanted it to so I had so I had to throw a lot more changeups and breaking balls,” he said.

So after getting a quality start from Mike Pelfrey the night before, the Mets will try and take the final game of this four game series Thursday evening when their ace Johan Santana gets the ball.  The other aspect that has hindered the pitching staff is giving up the walk, nine more, a stat that also leads the league.

Manuel may mix and match more out of the pen, where most of the walks are coming from. It was not Perez losing control this time.  But the offense is a concern also, and Manuel may be forced to make a lineup change.

“I will sleep on that one,” he said.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

The hit was supposed to be a bunt to move runners over which showed a part of his competitive edge. Then there was that move by Manuel, pulling Santana from a game which the Mets eventually won 6-5 in the opener of a three game series with the first place Phillies.

But the talk was about Santana, and the combined seven home runs, three by the Mets and four by the Phils at Citi Field. Santana is the ace of a Mets pitching staff that is fourth in the National League. And with injuries that have taken on toll on this team, in particular to Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes, every time Santana takes the mound it is more significant.

“I just told him ‘that I feel good,’” was the explanation Santana gave to Manuel when he was removed from the game with obvious aggravation shown on his face.  But there was that competitive edge that Manuel also heard when Santana said, according to Manuel, “I’m a man, I’m a man.”

There has been talk that Manuel and Santana are having some differences about the pitch counts and when Santana has had enough. But every Mets fan knows, and so does the team, that they love the competitive edge their ace pitcher provides on the mound.

“What he means by that I don’t know,” said Manuel regarding Santana’s comments about being a man. “He’s a competitor,” added Manuel about his ace, also dispelling any thoughts that their meeting at the mound was something more.

To his credit, Santana, who is 4-0 in eight starts against the Phillies, probably believed he could go another inning. But these three games against Philadelphia are important as the Mets are in a stretch of games this week that also include three against the cross-town New York Yankees in the Bronx starting Friday evening.

Santana is scheduled to pitch the final game of that series Sunday afternoon. “I’m not trying to show anybody up or anything,” said Santana when asked about being removed from the game in which he gave up home runs to Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez, Jimmy Rollins and the last one to Chase Utley in the eighth inning.\

“I just felt that I had enough stuff to battle through it,” he said. “But he thought different, he’s my skipper and I respect everything he does.”  But Manuel saw the vintage Santana changeup, for a second straight start hanging to the Philly hitters who as a team lead the National League in home runs.

The seven home runs combined, also long balls hit by the Mets Carlos Beltran, his team leading 8^th, David Wright number 4, and Ryan Church his 2^nd, was a record in the short span of Citi Field history.

“He hung his pitches and when you hang those type of pitches against those hitters they are going to hit them out of the park,” said Manuel about the home runs hit by Howard, Ibanez, Rollins, and Utley. Howard hit his 18^th in the fourth inning and Ibanez his 20^th also in the same inning, as Santana allowed back-to-back home runs for the first time since  July 17^th 2008 at Cincinnati.

And the four home runs given up by Santana in a game was done once before when he was a member of the Minnesota Twins on July 23, 2007 at Toronto. And that double which came on an 0-2 count, that was supposed to be a bunt, was Santana’s first RBI since last July 27^th and gave the Mets a 5-4 lead in the 6^th.

“I really feel proud of it, because, you know I haven’t been able to do much, the hitting but tonight I think it was the difference in the game..” And at that time it was a difference because Santana once again showed his competitive edge, indeed at a time when the Mets need it.

They have not been getting the offense, 28^th in baseball when it comes to the home run ball.  And Manuel has been utilizing a make ship lineup with all of the injuries that have also occurred to others. Fernando Tatis and Daniel Murphy have been hitting a combined .165 the past month with the absences of Delgado and Reyes.

The bullpen did the rest including Pedro Feliciano who induced a double play ground ball to Ryan Howard in the eighth. And Francisco Rodriquez remained perfect saving his 16^th straight game and preserving a win for Santana now 8-3 on the season.

Only two strikeouts for Santana in seven innings and the home run ball may be a concern, but Citi Field with the warmer weather setting in may have suddenly become the other home run park in New York

“The jury is still out,’ said Manuel about the sudden home run surge at Citi Field. “Until we feel we are healthy every game is a big game for us,” he said.  And every time Santana takes the mound it is becoming more evident the type of competitive edge he brings.