Citi Field – Welcome Home – Part 2

Here We Go! I’m in luck. Left-hander Chris Capuano is on the mound for the Metropolitans. It wasn’t too long ago that he threw a two-hit, fourteen-strikeout gem against the Atlanta Braves, who are a very good club. If he can handle them, he should be able to handle a so-so Florida Marlins club.

Top of the first: What’s going on here? Seven Marlins come to the plate and unleash a double to left, a single to left, a walk, a single to left, a sacrifice fly and before I have time to write down all the names of the players on my score card the Marlins have scored 2 runs and I’m grateful that at least two other Marlins were left on base and did not score. What worries me most is the sound of the ball as it connects with the Marlins bats; their hitters are not fooled by Capuano and are hitting the ball hard.

Bottom of the first: We don’t do anything against a Marlins pitcher who looks pretty sharp.

Top of the second: I know the Marlins are going to get some hits and I am not disappointed. After all, the stadium is new but the karma is the same. However, even though the hits fall the Marlins are foiled (HA!) and do not score.

Now I KNOW I’m home. Just before the Mets half of the second the Public Address Announcer states the following: “May I have the attention of the owner of a white Honda, four-door Accord, New York Plate ABC-123. Your keys are in the car, the engine is running and your doors are open. Please immediately return to your car where security is standing by.” Apparently there is at least one attendee who wants to meet the Mets with greater urgency than I do.

Bottom of the second: Grounders. I’ve never seen Marlins pitcher Chris Volstad before, but he sure seems effective against our lineup tonight.

Top of the third: A fly ball to right, a fly ball to center, a double and a grounder to Wright at third. I’m all smiles watching David Wright sling it over to first. No runs, one hit and it looks to me like Capuano is settling down.

Bottom of the third: Ground out. Strike out. Ground out. Maybe they’ll get to Volstad the second time they face him.

Top of the fourth: A strikeout and two grounders. Excellent.

Bottom of the fourth: After Duda walks, Wright smashes a mighty wallop to deep left field. Naturally, because we’re the Mets and have designed and built a stadium that negates whatever little home run power we possess, the ball glances off the ridiculously high sixteen-foot, left-field wall, and we all have to settle for a double. Wright is so peeved that we can feel his anger up in the second deck. No matter. Nick Evans, making the most of his audition as the Mets first baseman, raps out a hit and Duda scampers home. We’re on the board!

Top of the fifth: By now Capuano has thrown a lot of pitches, and I’m chatting up the other fans as we speculate that this will be his last inning. I’m sure that Mets Manager Terry Collins would have preferred more innings from his starting pitcher, but I’m figuring he’s not surprised, either. Still, two runs in five innings on a very warm night in Queens is good enough, so on we go. Three ground outs wrap their way around a double and an intentional walk, and I’m satisfied.

Bottom of the fifth: Willie Harris pinch hits for Capuano so we’ll see a new Mets pitcher in the top of the sixth. Marlins pitcher Chris Volstad is still on his game, however, and we are retired without scoring a run.

Top of the sixth: Collins has brought in Pedro Beato to pitch to the Marlins. I’ve heard good things about him and enjoy a charmed effort: a fly ball, a weak grounder and a strike out looking. Yes!

Bottom of the sixth: To quote former Mets Manager Yogi Berra, “it’s déjà vu all over again” as David Wright again crushes the pitch to almost the same spot as he did in the fourth. There he stands on second base, having to satisfy himself with a double once again. I’m looking at him hard and Wright doesn’t look very satisfied to me. However, he scores on a liner by Jason Bay, and we are tied!

Top of the seventh: A new inning and a new Mets pitcher, Manny Acosta, who surrenders one hit and no runs.

Seventh inning stretch: Kate Smith graces us with her rendition of “God Bless America,” which by now is music to my ears. After a respectful pause, Mr. Met and several dancers move and groove on the third-base side of the infield. It feels great to stand up and be surrounded by a sea of orange and blue. Home.

Bottom of the seventh: Jose Reyes singles to center and is moved over on a Ruben Tejada bunt. The Marlins respond with a fresh arm as Greg Dobbs takes over the pitching duties. Lucas Duda rudely greets him with a single to center field and Reyes motors home with our third run. I am watching a game at Citi Field, and the Mets have the lead!

Top of the eighth: Jason Isringhausen comes in to pitch. Many years ago he was a promising young pitcher for us, but for a variety of reasons he had his best years for other teams. At the age of 39 he’s returned to the Mets this year. I smile thinking about his journey home, and am happy to witness him pitching in the twilight of his career. He can still bring it, and after a fly ball and two ground outs his night’s work is done.

Bottom of the eighth: Jason Bay lashes a solid double to center field, but the Mets can’t bring him in, and the score remains Mets 3, Marlins 2.

Top of the ninth: Young Bobby Parnell comes in to pitch and hopefully close out the game. I’m so excited I can hardly sit still. A Marlin singles to right field, but three outs quickly follow and that’s it. We won! Yahoo!

Ball Game: Yippee! It’s high five’s all around as pleased Mets fans slowly leave the ball park. I exit Citi Field, follow familiar pathways to the 7, take my place on the subway car with other Mets fans and head home. It doesn’t get any better than this.