Mets Split Doubleheader With Brewers

 

Clay Holmes firing one in to Sal Frelick in the fifth inning of Game 1. Photo by Jason Schott.

After a rain out on Tuesday night, the Mets took the field on Wednesday afternoon to open a day-night doubleheader with the Milwaukee Brewers, their first action since their lost weekend in Pittsburgh.

GAME 1: BREWERS 7, METS 2

The Brewers wasted no time in this one, as Sal Frelick opened the game with a lead-off home run to right field off Mets starting pitcher Clay Holmes.

William Contreras followed with a single, but Holmes then struck out Christian Yelich and he retired the following two to get out of the frame.

Freddy Peralta got the start for Milwaukee, and he retired the first six Mets before he hit Jeff McNeil with a pitch to open the third inning.

Luis Torrens then singled, and McNeil raced to third base.

That set him up to score on Brett Baty’s sacrifice fly to center field, and the game was tied at 1.

Milwaukee had a massive chance in the top of the fourth with Holmes walked the bases loaded with one out, but he then got Joey Ortiz to ground into a double play to end the threat.

Juan Soto drew a walk to open the bottom half of the fourth before he stole second base. 

Pete Alonso then laced a single to bring him in, and the Mets led 2-1.

Holmes then retired Milwaukee 1-2-3 in the fifth, and he walked Yelich to open the sixth before getting Jackson Chourio to fly out to right field.

Clay Holmes getting Jackson Chourio to fly out to right field to end his day. Photo by Jason Schott.

That would be all for Holmes, and in came Reid Garrett.

The right-hander was greeted rudely by Brice Turang, who hit a double to left field to bring in Yelich and tie the game at 2.

Isaac Collins then got a single, and Jake Bauers drew a walk to load the bases.

Up came Ortiz for the second time in a row he would have them loaded with one out - this time he took full advantage.

After drawing the count to 3-0 before he took a strike, Ortiz took the 3-1 offering and crushed it to left field, and the Brewers were suddenly up 6-2.

Joey Ortiz celebrates with his teammates after crushing his grand slam. Photo by Jason Schott.

Milwaukee tacked on another run in the eighth when Collins crushed a solo shot in the top of the eighth.

Peralta earned the win for the Brewers, after he went six innings, and allowed two runs (both earned) on two hits and a walk, while striking out six. He is now 9-4 with a 2.91 ERA on the season.

Garrett took the loss, after surrendering four runs in just 2/3 of an inning, and he is now 2-4. 

GAME 2: METS 7, BREWERS 3:

The Mets took the nightcap, as they jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the second inning, backed by a grand slam from Brandon Nimmo and a solo home run from Francisco Lindor.

Francisco Lindor returning to the dugout after his home run. 

Huascar Brazoban started this one as an “opener,” and after he threw a scoreless first inning, Blake Tidwell threw four shutout innings.

Tidwell was lifted after he allowed three runs in the sixth, but he still earned the win, his first of the season.

Lindor gave the Mets some insurance when he got an RBI single in the sixth and an RBI double in the eighth that made it 7-3.

This was the Mets’ fourth win in their last 18 games, and they are now 49-38.

Books: "The Friday Afternoon Club" By Griffin Dunne, Now In Paperback

 

The Friday Afternoon Club

By Griffin Dunne

Penguin Press; paperback, 400 pages; $21.00

Griffin Dunne has had a storied acting career dating to the 1970s, known for producing and starring in the classic film After Hours, and recently, he played the role of Nicky on the acclaimed show This Is Us. He also directed Practical Magic and the documentary The Center Will Not Hold, about his aunt, the legendary writer Joan Didion.

Red Bulls Match Minnesota Late To Earn Draw

 

Omar Valencia firing in a corner kick in the 8th minute. Photo by Jason Schott.

The Red Bulls started strong early, and had to finish that way, to earn a 2-2 draw with Minnesota United FC on Saturday night at Sports Illustrated Stadium.

Soto Sparks Mets Just When They Need It

 

Juan Soto rounds first base on his fourth-inning home run. Photo by Jason Schott.

When Juan Soto was in The Bronx for his cameo last season, it was easy to see he was this Yankees' era version of "the straw that stirs the drink," as Reggie Jackson was called when he led them to two World Series titles after a long drought.

Books: "The Love Fix" By Jill Shalvis

 

The Love Fix

By Jill Shalvis

Avon; paperback, $18.99; Ebook, $12.99; Digital Audio, $27.99; available today, Tuesday, June 24th

Jill Shalvis is a New York Times bestselling author who lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any possible  resemblance is mostly coincidental, and her bestselling books can be found at her website, jillshalvis.com, where there's a complete book list and she writes a daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

Books: "Every Weapon I Had" By Paris Davis

 

Every Weapon I Had: A Vietnam Vet's Long Road to the Medal of Honor

By Paris Davis

St. Martin's Press; 320 pages; hardcover, $30.00; EBook, $14.99; available today, Tuesday, June 17th

Paris Davis is a former Green Beret and highly-decorated veteran of the United States Special Forces. His story is one of incredible heroism, as he served the nation in combat during the 1960s, one of the most polarizing times in the nation's history. He felt the effects of the two most pivotal events of that time as a young African-American, the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights movement.

Red Sox Sweep Yankees, Who Commence Their Annual Descent

 

Garrett Whitlock and Connor Wong after Boston won Sunday afternoon. Photo by Jason Schott.

The Boston Red Sox completed their sweep of the Yankees on Sunday afternoon with a 2-0 shutout win at Fenway Park, which begs the question, do the Yankees just suck?