Mets 4, Nats 1 (game story)
They had to cool off eventually. The Nationals scored 85 runs in their previous 11 games. It was about time someone shut them down. Washington (60-79) finished with just four hits total and seven baserunners. That was more than enough for Mets pitcher Dillon Gee (1-0, 1.29 ERA), who pitched seven strong innings in his major-league debut and got New York (68-71) a victory.
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Of course, the big story for the Nats was their own starting pitcher’s debut. Washington gave Yunesky Maya a four-year contract this summer in the hopes that he would be a key part of their rotation starting in 2011. It was a mixed bag Tuesday night for the Cuban defector, who left his native land last September to pursue his dream of playing in the major leagues. All the time and effort to get to this point takes an emotional toll. And while Maya appears a cool character he admitted to some nerves in the first inning. New York took advantage with two singles followed by an Ike Davis three-run homer. That decided the game before the Nats had a chance to bat. Maya couldn’t help but think of his family back home – just 90 miles from the United States mainland yet so far away in reality.
“I’m not sure if they were watching,” Maya said. “But I know their minds and their souls were there giving me support.”
You endure that kind of separation and a few early-inning runs don’t seem so daunting. But it is one of the extra hurdles Maya has to navigate all while learning major-league hitters and what he can and can’t do at this level. At the very least the Nats were pleased with the adjustments Maya made after his rough start. He retired 11 of the final 12 batters he faced and didn’t give up a hit during that stretch.
“Seemed like he had a little better command, a little better rotation getting his breaking ball down below the knees in the third and fourth innings, the fifth inning,” said Washington manager Jim Riggleman. “Just much better with his breaking ball, pitched in a little more, got some strike calls. [Maya] got better as it went along, but the damage was done.”
Nats Notes
» Washington has yet to win four games in a row this season. The Mets again snapped a three-game winning streak.
» Yunesky Maya allowed four runs on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts in his major-league debut.
» Outfielder Willie Harris actually has nine more hits (37) than RBI (29) in 2010.
» The crowds are going to slip here in the final 14 home games of the season with schools back in session and the games lacking much meaning. Attendance at Nationals Park on Tuesday was announced as 13,835.
» Reminder: The Mets and Nats play their second afternoon game of the series on Wednesday and it’s the earliest of the season. First pitch is at 12:35 p.m. with Livan Hernandez (9-10, 3.81 ERA) facing New York knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (9-6, 2.91 ERA).
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