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 But the players currently occupying those positions did just fine
Monday night, when shortstop Ruben Tejada and right-handed pitchers
Jenrry Mejia and Kyle Farnsworth all played vital roles in the Mets'
2-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field.
Mejia, who was named the fifth starter over right-hander Daisuke
Matsuzaka, won his second straight start and continued to cement his
hold on the job by throwing 6 2/3 solid innings of four-hit ball. He
has thrown 13 2/3 scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 1.99.
"He came to spring training bound and determined to be the fifth
starter," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "I got a report from the
Dominican Republic last winter that he was out throwing every day
(and) running. He got himself in great shape and today he pitched
it."'
Mejia walked four and struck out seven. He has a 2.16 ERA in nine
starts since joining the Mets' rotation last July after recovering
from the Tommy John surgery he had in May 2011.
"I'm just thinking about doing the best I can and throwing
everything for strikes," Mejia said.
Mejia's latest strong effort was aided by a pair of nifty defensive
plays by Tejada. In the fourth inning, Tejada made a diving stop to
rob Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina of a hit.
After Mejia began the next inning by throwing six straight balls,
Tejada began a 6-4-3 double play in spectacular fashion by sprawling
behind second base to grab a grounder hit by center fielder John
Jay.
"I felt pretty good when I saw it hit to Tejada," Mejia said with a
grin. "I said 'Oh he's got it. Double play.'"
Tejada hit .287 in 210 games in 2011 and 2012 but batted .202 in 57
games last season, when he spent almost three months at Triple-A Las
Vegas.
He is hitting .204 in 54 at-bats this year, but defensive gems such
as the ones he authored Monday night will get him back into good
graces with the Mets, who flirted with free agent shortstops Stephen
Drew and Jhonny Peralta before sticking with Tejada.
"I think Ruben's starting to get it going defensively," Collins
said. I think Ruben, as we get into the summer, is going to be the
guy that we knew a couple years ago."
Farnsworth — who had a 5,40 ERA as a non-roster invitee in spring
training and was cut March 23 before signing a minor league deal
three days later — worked around a leadoff single in the ninth to
earn his first save since he was named the Mets' closer on Sunday.
The 38-year-old Farnsworth, who has recorded saves for seven teams,
replaced right-hander Jose Valverde, who got the job when
right-hander Bobby Parnell suffered an elbow injury on Opening Day
that required Tommy John surgery. The injury opened a roster spot
for Farnsworth, who had been preparing to pitch for Triple-A Las
Vegas.
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"When you've thrown a lot of bullets like he has over the years,
they take a little while (in spring training) to get ready," Collins
said of Farnsworth, who has an 0.96 ERA in 10 appearances. "We
thought he should start out at Vegas, we got an injury, that got him
right up here. If he continues to build up that arm strength, I
think he's going to really help us."
Catcher Travis d'Arnaud had two hits, including an RBI single in the
sixth, for the Mets (10-9), who won their second in a row to move
above .500 for the second time this season. Third baseman David
Wright boosted his hitting streak to 12 games with a third-inning
RBI single.
Molina, third baseman Matt Carpenter and first baseman Allen Craig
all had two hits apiece for the Cardinals (11-9), who have lost two
straight and four of their last six.
"When we did have a chance to score some runs, they ended up making
some plays to get out of it," Carpenter said. "They pitched good and
played good defense and that's why they ended up beating us."
Left-hander Tyler Lyons took the loss in his season debut for the
Cardinals after allowing the two runs, six hits and four walks while
striking out seven.
NOTES: Before the game, the Mets recalled OF Bobby Abreu from
Triple-A Las Vegas and optioned OF Andrew Brown to the same
affiliate. Abreu, 40, will be used as a pinch-hitter and see
occasional starts in the outfield. He has not played in the majors
since 2012 but was hitting .395 with nine RBIs in 39 at-bats at Las
Vegas. Brown was batting .185 with one homer and five RBIs in 27
at-bats. ... The 12-game hitting streak for Mets 3B David Wright is
his team-record 18th streak of at least 10 games. ... To make room
for LHP Tyler Lyons, the Cardinals optioned RHP Jorge Rondon to
Triple-A Memphis after Sunday's game. Rondon did not appear in a
game in four days on the Cardinals' roster. ... All 20 Cardinals
games this season have been started by pitchers who have never
played for another big league club. Of their 183 games since the
start of 2013, all but 19 have been started by career-long
Cardinals. RHP Jake Westbrook made 19 of those starts before
retiring in the off-season.
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