Mets 1, Braves 0 - New & Improved Bullpen Will Actually Record Outs

I would be very interested in seeing how a game like this would play out mid-season, without all of the adrenaline of Opening Day or, in the case of the Mets, without a pretty juiced crowd to cheer on some superb relief pitchers as they pitched four scoreless innings after Santana went five innings allowing no runs in his first start since 2010.  

But that's not something I need to worry about, as it WAS Opening Day, and for at least one afternoon, Citi Field was full (but not sold out) one run was enough to win, and the pitchers wriggled out of all their jams.  In fact, the only real bummer was when the Mets trainers had to actually euthanize Andres Torres on the field.  

"Wow man, you're pretty delicate, huh."

For awhile it looked like Santana would get to go six, but that opportunity pretty much evaporated as, with two outs in the top of the fifth, he gave up walks to Tyler Pastornicky and Tommy Hanson, the eighth and ninth hitters, and loaded the bases before getting Michael Bourn to ground out to the mound.  Those extra 17 pitches pretty much cost Santana the win, but Mets fans are just happy that his arm still seems to be attached to his torso, and he isn't in any pain.  Baby steps!  

After the GOOD acquisition from the Giants in the Pagan deal, Ramon Ramirez, pitched a scoreless sixth, the Mets were able to put a run together courtesy of a Torres walk, a long single to right by Daniel Murphy, and a screaming RBI single to left off the bat of David Wright.  Considering that Wright's Opening Day status was up in the air for most of spring training because of his oblique injury (the only MLB injury anymore), it was great to see him in the lineup with two singles.  

But there could have been more!  Ike Davis followed Wright with a popout and Jason Bay, starving for a big hit, ALMOST had what could have been a step on the road back to not getting completely booed out of the building on Opening Day when he socked a ball to left, but the fences weren't moved in THAT much and it was hauled in on the track.  

So there was just one run to be had, and it looked like the Mets were immediately going to give it back as, with one out, Pastornicky lifted a ball to deep center that carried over Torres, causing the pursuing center fielder to pull up lame while chasing after it.  Pastornicky wound up with a triple, his first hit in the major leagues, and Torres was escorted off the field with a calf injury that has him on the DL.  So to sum up, he got picked off first base, misplayed a ball and had to go on the disabled list.  NOT THE BEST OPENING DAY.  Anyway, Ramirez left and Tim Byrdak was called in and completely was like "I got this guys," and struck the next two fools out to preserve the lead.  Then Rauch and Francisco each had 1-2-3 innings, and the Mets won AGAIN on Opening Day, for the 33rd time in their 51 opening days.  

What was most exciting about this game was the bullpen, which had looked pretty crappy all spring, particularly Rauch (ERA over 7) and Francisco (5.54) coming together to nail down the win.  They didn't even need to use Mecha Bobby Parnell, who had a conversation with Sandy Koufax and went on to not allow an earned run for all of spring training.  

There are nits to be picked, for sure.  There were way too many runners left on base, and I fear for Jason Bay if things don't start to fall into place for him.  I was really hoping Davis would get off to a good start, since he finished spring red-hot, but let's see what happens on Saturday.  Who cares if the Mets will probably have to call up Kirk Nieuwenhuis to fill in for Torres.  At least it will give them a chance to see what the prospect has.  In the meantime, we get to watch St. Dickey pitch while the Marlins languish in last place and the Phillies can barely beat the Pirates, even WITH Halladay on the mound.  Opening Day is a clean slate indeed.