Those Mets

BARAJAS HERO AGAIN
MR. 9TH: IN ROD WE TRUST 2010

Rod Barajas hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning - his second homer of the game - and rookie Ike Davis smacked two homers as well as the Mets beat the Giants, 6-4, Friday night in a thrilling game in front of 34,681 at Citi Field. After Met closer Francisco Rodriguez blew a save chance in the top of the ninth, Barajas homered off Sergio Romo after Davis had drawn a one-out walk. The Mets, who had lost four-of-five entering the game, got a solid performance from starter Mike Pelfrey, who rebounded from a poor start in Philadelphia last week. Struggling cleanup hitter Jason Bay even contributed, drilling an RBI double in the first inning to give the Mets a 1-0 lead. Davis was dropped to seventh in the lineup because the Mets were facing stingy lefty Jonathan Sanchez. Sanchez had not given up a homer to any hitter or a hit to any left-hander batter this season until Davis slammed a 1-1 pitch off the Pepsi Porch in right field with one out in the second inning. Lefties had been 0-for-17 with seven strikeouts this season against Sanchez until Davis' blast. Barajas followed with a home run down the left-field line, the first time this season the Mets have hit back-to-back homers. It was Barajas' 100th career home run. Barajas, a late signee after the Mets could not come to an agreement with the catcher in the other dugout Friday night, Bengie Molina, now has nine home runs this season. Davis has three. Davis homered again in the fourth inning, whacking Sanchez's first pitch over the yellow Nikon sign in center field. He was given a warm ovation by the crowd of 34,681 before his at-bat in the sixth inning, before Sanchez struck him out. Davis, a sensation since his April 19 callup, had hit only .176 on the Mets' recent six-game road trip. The Giants tied the score at 4 in the ninth inning when John Bowker hit a one-out, pinch-hit home run off Met closer Francisco Rodriguez. The Giants had the go-ahead run at third in the inning when Davis made an acrobatic catch of Pablo Sandoval's foul pop for the final out, tumbling over the rail of the Met dugout, saved from a nasty spill by a teammate. It's the second time Davis has made such a play since he was called up. Pelfrey (5-1) allowed eight hits and three runs in 7.1 innings, striking out four and walking none. He threw 85 pitches, 61 for strikes. Manuel had moved Davis down against Sanchez so the right-handed Jeff Francoeur could protect No. 5 hitter David Wright, who seems to have regained his power stroke. Also, Manuel broke up the duo of Pelfrey and backup catcher Henry Blanco, starting Barajas instead because he is a better hitter than Blanco. (MLB.com)