GDT: 6/23/10 - DET (38-31) AT NYM (40-30) - 7:10 p.m. ET

Mets riding Wright into Bonderman matchupl

By Didier Morais / MLB.com

In only his sixth season in the Majors, David Wright continues his assault on the Mets' record books. With his sacrifice fly in the first inning against Detroit on Tuesday, the third baseman passed Ed Kranepool for fourth place on the club's all-time RBI list with 615.

Wright also climbed atop the National League's RBI list with 56, leapfrogging Atlanta's Troy Glaus for the lead. Since May 30, he's been on an offensive tear, slugging four home runs, seven doubles, 22 RBIs and scoring 19 runs, all while catapulting his team into second place in the NL East.

"You can't live and die with every at-bat," Wright said. "You can drive yourself crazy riding that emotional roller coaster from at-bat to at-bat."

The Mets, though, have certainly enjoyed the ride. Relying on Wright's hot bat, New York has cruised through its June schedule, winning 14 of its last 18 games and boasting a 10-3 record in Interleague Play.

As the Mets look to preserve their winning ways, longtime Mets fan Jerry Seinfeld will be in the broadcast booth alongside Keith Hernandez, whose appearance during a two-part episode in 1992 was one of the show's signature moments. MLB.TV will air the game live. Taking the hill will be R.A. Dickey, who brings an unbeaten record into tonight's game against the Tigers. In his last outing Thursday, the knuckleballer limited the Indians to two runs, while fanning seven en route to a 6-4 win. With the victory, he also became the first pitcher in Mets history to win at least five games, without a loss, in his first six starts with the club.

But Jeremy Bonderman is vying to end Dickey's historical success. The Detroit pitcher claimed his first victory in nearly a month last Thursday, when he lasted seven innings and racked up seven strikeouts against the Nationals.

"We've [been] pitching well as a staff," Bonderman said. "We've been pitching deep into games and giving the bullpen a break. We aren't using some of the guys that we were early in the year. That's big, because we are going to have stretches where we don't throw the ball as well."

And Wright is aiming to capitalize on those mistakes. Last time Wright squared off against Bonderman, in a 2007 Interleague matchup, the right-hander held Wright to a quiet 1-for-3 outing.

Tigers: Nightmare debut for Sborz
The Tigers recalled Jay Sborz from Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday to replace Rick Porcello, who was optioned to the Minors on Sunday afternoon, on the club's 25-man roster. His Major League debut was not one you dream of, though, as he hit his first two batters faced and allowed five runs, while recording just two outs. In 24 appearances with the Mud Hens this season, Sborz tallied 15 saves and 28 strikeouts, while posting a 3.04 ERA.

Mets: Minaya impressed by Beltran's progress
Over the weekend, Mets general manager Omar Minaya traveled to the team's Minor League facilities in Port St. Lucie, Fla., to watch center fielder Carlos Beltran rehab from his surgically repaired right knee. After watching him train, Minaya returned with an optimistic outlook on Beltran's progress.

"I had not been here for a while, and we had been getting reports, but watching him, the leg seems to be getting stronger," Minaya said. "I can tell you that I'm pleased. Talking to the staff, watching him run and watching him run the bases, he was getting after it."

Beltran is expected to begin his rehab assignment Thursday with Class A St. Lucie.

Worth noting
Detroit manager Jim Leyland and Mets manager Jerry Manuel's careers have intersected in the past. In 1979, Leyland, then the manager for the Evansville Triplets, coached Manuel. Under Leyland's tutelage that year, Manuel had a .252 batting average and clubbed nine home runs with 75 RBIs.



Pitching matchup

TIGERS: RHP Jeremy Bonderman (3-4, 4.06 ERA)
Tigers manager Jim Leyland loves what Bonderman brings to the table. It's his no-fear attitude and ability to pound the bottom of the strike zone that has impressed the skipper so far this season. In his most recent start, Bonderman gave up four deep flyballs to the warning track in the first two innings that were sure home runs in most ballparks. But not in spacious Comerica Park. Bonderman recovered from his shaky start and went on to allow only two runs in seven innings of work, his fifth quality start in his past six outings.



METS: RHP R.A. Dickey (5-0, 2.82 ERA)
It's difficult for a knuckleballer to be dominant, and Dickey certainly wasn't on Thursday against the Indians. But he was good enough, scattering seven hits and three runs throughout his six innings at Progressive Field. Dickey also struck out seven batters, the third time he has fanned seven or more in a game this season. Taking a tip from pitching coach Dan Warthen, Dickey began exclusively throwing his harder, low-80s knuckleball -- which he was better able to command -- in the middle innings, allowing him to retire the final six batters he faced. Dickey's next start will come against the Tigers, a team that touched him for four runs in three innings last season.



From MLB Tigers Game Notes



INJURY UPDATE:
RHP Zach Miner (right elbow tendinitis, 15-day DL on March 26),
RHP Ryan Perry (right shoulder bicipital tendinitis, 15-day DL on June 7),
LHP Bobby Seay (left shoulder strain, 60-day DL on March 26).



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Up next (Probable Pitchers)


• Thursday, June 24
Tigers (RHP Armando Galarraga (2-1, 3.32 ERA)) at METS (LHP Hisanori Takahashi (6-2, 3.13 ERA)), 7:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1) & MLBN

• Friday, June 25
Tigers (LHP Andy Oliver (0-0, 0.00 ERA)) at BRAVES (RHP Kris Medlen (4-1, 3.33 ERA)), 7:35 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1) & MLBN

• Saturday, June 26
Tigers (RHP Max Scherzer (4-6, 5.67 ERA)) at BRAVES (RHP Kenshin Kawakami (0-9, 4.78 ERA)), 4:00 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)

• Sunday, June 27
Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander (8-5, 3.94 ERA)) at BRAVES (RHP Tommy Hanson (7-4, 4.17 ERA)), 1:35 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1) & TBS

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit AVG
Damon, CF .274
Santiago, SS .265
Ordonez, RF .328
Cabrera, M, 1B .327
Boesch, LF .343
Guillen, C, 2B .294
Inge, 3B .262
Avila, C .236
Bonderman, P .000
Totals .273

NY Mets AVG
Reyes, Jo, SS .277
Pagan, CF .304
Wright, D, 3B .291
Davis, I, 1B .268
Bay, LF .280
Francoeur, RF .267
Blanco, H, C .279
Tejada, 2B .256
Dickey, P .375
Totals .260

Inning 1
Top Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Johnny Damon flies out to center fielder Angel Pagan.


B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Ramon Santiago walks.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Angel Pagan. Ramon Santiago to 2nd.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to center fielder Angel Pagan.


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Brennan Boesch walks. Ramon Santiago to 3rd. Magglio Ordonez to 2nd.


B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Carlos Guillen grounds out, second baseman Ruben Tejada to first baseman Ike Davis.

0-0 after .5 inning

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Jose Reyes triples (6) on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.


B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Angel Pagan swinging.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
David Wright grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Ike Davis grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Brandon Inge flies out to center fielder Angel Pagan.


B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Alex Avila singles on a ground ball to right fielder Jeff Francoeur.


B:0 S:0 O:3 - Jeremy Bonderman bunt pops into double
play, first baseman Ike Davis to second baseman Ruben Tejada. Alex
Avila doubled off 1st.

0-0 after 1.5 inning

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Jason Bay flies out to left fielder Brennan Boesch.


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Jeff Francoeur swinging.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Henry Blanco grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

0-0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Johnny Damon singles on a soft fly ball to right fielder Jeff Francoeur.


B:2 S:0 O:0 -
With Ramon Santiago batting, Johnny Damon steals (5) 2nd base.


B:2 S:0 O:1 -
Ramon Santiago out on a sacrifice bunt, catcher Henry Blanco to first baseman Ike Davis. Johnny Damon to 3rd.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out softly, pitcher R. A. Dickey to first baseman Ike Davis.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, third baseman David Wright to first baseman Ike Davis.

0-0 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Ruben Tejada grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
R. A. Dickey grounds out softly, catcher Alex Avila to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Jose Reyes singles on a line drive to center fielder Johnny Damon.


B:2 S:0 O:2 -
With Angel Pagan batting, Jose Reyes steals (19) 2nd base.


B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Angel Pagan walks.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
David Wright doubles (20) on a ground ball to left fielder Brennan Boesch. Jose Reyes scores. Angel Pagan to 3rd.

NYM 1, DET 0


B:2 S:0 O:3 -
Ike Davis grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

NYM 1, DET 0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Brennan Boesch grounds out to first baseman Ike Davis.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen grounds out to first baseman Ike Davis.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Brandon Inge singles on a ground ball to left fielder Jason Bay.


B:3 S:1 O:3 -
Alex Avila flies out to left fielder Jason Bay.

NYM 1, DET 0 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Jason Bay flies out to center fielder Johnny Damon.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Jeff Francoeur flies out to left fielder Brennan Boesch.


B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Henry Blanco flies out to left fielder Brennan Boesch.

NYM 1, DET 0 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Jeremy Bonderman swinging.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Johnny Damon flies out to center fielder Angel Pagan.


B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Ramon Santiago called out on .

NYM 1, DET 0 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Ruben Tejada grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
R. A. Dickey grounds out softly, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Jose Reyes homers (6) on a fly ball to right field.
NYM 2, DET 0




B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Angel Pagan flies out to center fielder Johnny Damon.

NYM 2, DET 0 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez swinging.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, third baseman David Wright to first baseman Ike Davis.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Brennan Boesch grounds out, first baseman Ike Davis to pitcher R. A. Dickey.

NYM 2, DET 0 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
David Wright swinging.


B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Ike Davis singles on a ground ball to left fielder Brennan Boesch.


B:2 S:2 O:2 - Jason Bay grounds into a force out,
shortstop Ramon Santiago to second baseman Carlos Guillen. Ike Davis
out at 2nd. Jason Bay to 1st.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Jeff Francoeur grounds into a force out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to second baseman Carlos Guillen. Jason Bay out at 2nd.

NYM 2, DET 0 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen grounds out softly to first baseman Ike Davis.


B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Brandon Inge swinging.


B:3 S:1 O:3 -
Alex Avila grounds out, second baseman Ruben Tejada to first baseman Ike Davis.

NYM 2, DET 0 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 - Henry Blanco singles on a ground ball to left fielder Brennan Boesch.


B:0 S:0 O:0 - Coaching visit to mound.


B:2 S:0 O:0 - Ruben Tejada singles on a line drive to left fielder Brennan Boesch. Henry Blanco to 2nd.


B:2 S:0 O:0 - Coaching visit to mound.


B:0 S:0 O:0 - Pitcher Change: Joel Zumaya replaces Jeremy Bonderman, batting 9th.


B:1 S:0 O:0 - With R. A. Dickey batting, wild pitch by Joel Zumaya, Henry Blanco to 3rd. Ruben Tejada to 2nd.


B:4 S:0 O:0 - R. A. Dickey walks.


B:0 S:1 O:1 - Jose Reyes grounds into a force out,
second baseman Carlos Guillen to catcher Alex Avila. Henry Blanco out
at home. Ruben Tejada to 3rd. Dickey to 2nd. Jose Reyes to 1st.


B:0 S:0 O:1 - Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Jesus Feliciano replaces Angel Pagan.


B:1 S:1 O:2 - Jesus Feliciano grounds out softly,
second baseman Carlos Guillen to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Ruben
Tejada scores. A. Dickey to 3rd. Jose Reyes to 2nd.

NYM 3, DET 0


B:4 S:2 O:2 - David Wright walks.


B:4 S:2 O:2 - Coaching visit to mound.


B:0 S:0 O:2 - Pitcher Change: Phil Coke replaces Joel Zumaya, batting 7th.


B:0 S:0 O:2 - Defensive Substitution: Ryan Raburn replaces pitcher Joel Zumaya, batting 9th, playing third base.


B:0 S:2 O:3 - Ike Davis singles on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. R. A. Dickey scores. Jose Reyes scores. David Wright out at 3rd on the throw, right fielder Magglio Ordonez to shortstop Ramon Santiago to third baseman Ryan Raburn.

NYM 5, DET 0


NYM 5, DET 0 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Jesus Feliciano remains in the game as the center fielder.


B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn grounds out, third baseman David Wright to first baseman Ike Davis.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Johnny Damon flies out to center fielder Jesus Feliciano.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Ramon Santiago grounds out, second baseman Ruben Tejada to first baseman Ike Davis.

NYM 5, DET 0 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Enrique Gonzalez replaces Phil Coke, batting 7th.


B:4 S:0 O:0 -
Jason Bay walks.


B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Jeff Francoeur lines out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Henry Blanco flies out to center fielder Johnny Damon.


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Ruben Tejada grounds out, second baseman Carlos Guillen to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

NYM 5, DET 0 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Francisco Rodriguez replaces R. A. Dickey, batting 9th.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez flies out to center fielder Jesus Feliciano.


B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a ground ball to left fielder Jason Bay.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Brennan Boesch grounds out, shortstop Jose Reyes to first baseman Ike Davis. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.


B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Carlos Guillen swinging.

NYM 5, DET 0 final box score >> click here <<