The Pre-Game: Hernandez vs. Stammen

Posted on May 26, 2009

Headline: The injury plagued Mets try to battle with the "phenom" Fernando Martinez!

Mets Lineup:

1. Angel Pagan, CF
2. Luis Castillo, 2B
3. David Wright, 3B
4. Gary Sheffield, LF
5. Fernando Tatis, 1B
6. Fernando Martinez, RF
7. Omir Santos, C
8. Ramon Martinez, SS
9. Livan Hernandez, SP

Pitching Preview:

Livan Hernandez -- Though Hernandez again pitched quite well, holding the National League's top-ranked offense to one run in seven innings, he could not win a third straight game last Wednesday against the Dodgers. Instead, he left that game locked in a tie, ultimately taking a no-decision. Against his next opponent, the Nationals, Hernandez won twice in two starts last year, allowing a combined seven runs in 13 innings. Nationals hitters Austin Kearns, Ryan Zimmerman and Josh Willingham are a combined 23-for-58 (.397) against him.

Craig Stammen -- Stammen made his Major League debut in his last start, and it was a successful start for the most part. He lasted 6 1/3 innings and gave up four runs, throwing 95 pitches, 57 of which went for strikes. Stammen didn't reach a three-ball count until the 21st batter he faced and got off to a promising start, tossing a perfect game through four innings. Catcher Josh Bard drove in two of the Nats' three runs, but it wasn't the RBIs that made Stammen comfortable on the mound -- it was having Bard behind the plate. The two formerly worked together at Triple-A Syracuse.

Prediction: Mets battle against an unknown pitcher, Fernando Tatis... not Martinez will have a big game. Mets win 7-5.