FIRST PLACE METS SWEEP MARIO, ONLY SIX GAMES LEFT

Location: Torto’s kitchen table

Food: Tostidos and tasty, tomatoey salsa that Mario said he would “put right over spaghetti noodles” (typical, Mario)

Drink: High Life Light in a bottle. 

GAME ONE (Johnny Cueto vs Dustin Mosely)

Pablo Sandolval hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the tenth to help guide the Mets to a game-one win. The bottom of the order was huge for Nick. Ruben Tejada and Ryan Hannigan each had four hits (all singles) in the game. Mario led for the majority of the game before his bullpen failed him. Rickie Weeks went 4x5 with a homer and Ryan Doumit also hit a home run. 

NICK 8, MARIO 7 (in ten innings)

Win - Marco Estrada, Loss – Venters

GAME TWO (Ryan Vogelsong vs Vance Worley)

Nyjer Morgan, in his first game back after missing the majority of the season with an injury, collected four hits and scored two runs in a game-two, Mets win. New York scored four runs in the fourth on six consecutive singles and another two runs in the sixth on a Todd Helton base-clearing double. Carlos Lee went 3x5 and hit a homer and Doumit added another three hits for Mario’s team. 

NICK 7, MARIO 5

Win – C. Martinez, Save – Putz, Loss – Vogelsong

GAME THREE (Jeff Karstens vs Mat Latos)

Mat Latos has to be one of the best PTP pitchers of all time, right? The fiery youngster tossed a brilliant seven innings, yielding just one run and five hits, while striking out eight would-be batters. The possible league MVP, Matt Holliday, hit two homers for the Mets, securing a three-game sweep. The Mets have now won five of their last six, and have just six games remaining, before what looks to be a deep playoff run. Alfonso Soriano went 2x3 and drove in the lone run for Mario’s struggling squad.

NICK 4, MARIO 1

Win – Latos, SV – Putz, Loss - Karstens 

Time on the injured reserve has allowed the once tightly-wound, Nyjer Morgan (below), to become shockingly calm and much more in touch with his inner-self. This maturation has carried over to the diamond, as well, as Morgan has collected five hits in his first two games back. "Tony Plush" is dead, Morgan joked, as he soflty kicked his feet up, sipped some green tea and grabbed his copy of William Faulkner's Light in August.   

 

Great team, great mascot (Nick at Fish re-cap)

Nick at Fish

Location: Fish’s kitchen, Miltown

Drink: Miller Lite Aluminum bottles

Food:  Connie’s Pizza (low caramelization) and pistachios (unshelled)

GAME ONE (Mat Latos v Matt Cain)

Matt Holliday hit two homers, the second in the twelfth inning off Carlos Marmol, and drove in four runs in a game one win for Nick. Fish’s closer, Fernando Salas, blew a one-run lead in the ninth, forcing the game into extras. Nick Hundley, Carlos Gomez and Carlos Gonzalez all had multi-hit games for Fish. Nick’s injury/field communication issues continue to hurt. For the second time this season, Alex Presley went crashing into the shortstop Ruben Tejada (one game injury), this time injuring himself for the year.

NICK 8, FISH 7

Win – Putz, Loss - Marmol

GAME TWO (Corey Luebke v Jair Jurjens)

Pablo Sandoval and professional beard-grower Todd Helton each hit two homers in the game-two, Mets win. Fish jumped to an early lead, scoring four runs in the first off starter Corey Luebke. Nick pecked away with two runs in the first and two in the third, before an explosive four-run sixth inning. Allen Craig hit a double and a homer and Jeff Baker had two hits and three RBI in the game for Fish.

Nick 10, Fish 6

Win – Estrada, Loss - Mujica

GAME THREE (Jordan Zimmerman v Ted Lilly)

The ever-humble Carlos Gomez hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth, off closer and game-one winner J.J. Putz, to help Fish avoid the sweep. The Toddfather hit another bomb, his third of the series. For Fish, Nick Hundley hit a dinger and drove in three.

Fish 7, Nick 6

Win – Bastardo, Loss - Putz  

Nick wins series, 2-1. The first-place Mets continue to roll. The squad scored 24 runs in the series, bombed seven homers and hold on to first place, going into their final nine games. Home field advantage is within reach…

Will this Man Ever Play PTP Again?

Spencer - if you are out there, stop hanging out with Connor McKnight - please contact your friends to play PTP as you are sorely behind

No other way to put it.  You guys need more Billy the Marlin in your life.

Despite the fact that I enjoy the smooth stylings of his voice, it's high-time we got the leering mug of Michael McDonald off the top of our website.  Plus I'm sick of remembering that my team didn't show up for the AL world series.  So here's a rare series update from my solid Marlins squad:

Torto @ Carlo (as played by a very hungover Mario)

Game 1: R.Halladay at Z.Greinke
Not surprisingly, this was a pitchers duel, basically won on two mistake pitches hung by Greinke.  A Stanton solo HR in the 7th, and a 2-run blast by The Prince were enough to get Halladay another W in this, his 5th complete game of the season.
Torto W 3-2

Game 2: I.Kennedy at A.Sanchez
Yet another pitchers duel, all the Marlins could muster in this one was a solo jack by Jimmy Rollins in the top of the 3rd.  Carlo's squad tied it with a solo HR from Aramis Ramirez in the 6th.  Into extras, the wheels came off for Matt Belisle in the bottom of the 10th, giving up a lead off single, and after 1 out, back-to-back walks.  Tyler Clippard was brought in and got the 2nd out, but then yielded a walk-off single to Neil Walker.
Carlo W 2-1

Game 3: J.Collmenter at M.Leake
Runs were hard to come by again for both squads, as solid pitching reigned supreme.  An RBI-single by The Heisey in the top of the 1st was all the Marlins could generate in run support for the young Collmenter.  Carlo's squad answered with an Aramis Ramirez sac fly in the bottom of the frame.  He added on with a Ronny Paulino RBI triple in the 5th, and that would be all that is needed. Marlin Mike Stanton was injured midway through this game in an outfield collision, but only for 3 games. Carlo did lose A-Ram for 8 games, and Mike Leake for his next start in this one.
Carlo W 2-1
Superior pitching/incompetent hitting clearly defined this entire series.

Fast forward a few weeks later, Goldy swung out to the WB for our final series of the NL season. 

Torto @ Goldy (but played at Torto's house)

Game 1: H.Kuroda @ T.Lincecum
Quick start out the gate for the Marlins, with a leadoff Jimmy Rollins HR followed by a Chris Heisey RBI double.  An RBI double by The Prince made it 3-0 in the top of the 5th, but Goldy got one back in the 5th, scoring Shane Victorino from 3rd on a ground ball.  An Omar Infante RBI single provided an insurance run in the 8th, and Latroy Hawkins and Sergio Romo combined for the hold/save combo.
Torto W 4-1

Game 2: J.Saunders @ S.Marcum
The ultimate pitching duel here (this with my crap #5 lefty starter) - tied ought-ought in the 7th, Joe Saunders got into a bit of trouble allowing a pair of singles, and reaching the limit of his endurance.  Tyler Clippard came in with 1 out and inheiriting 2 baserunners.  He proceeded to walk the bases loaded, and then issue a bases loaded walk to Jerry Hairston Jr. (of all guys!?!).  This was the only run scored the rest of the way, and Kensley Jansen came in for the 8th and 9th for the old school save, striking out 5 of 7 batters faced.
Goldy W 1-0

Game 3: R.Halladay @ T.Hanson
Another tight one in the rubber match, which found Halladay going the full 9, but dueling ginger Tommy Hansen and friends to a 3-3 stalemate.  Into extra innings, both teams had their opportunities, with Goldy loading the bases with 2-outs in the 10th, and Torto putting 5 total baserunners on over the 10th and 11th.  Then it went pretty quiet until the top of the 14th, when Mike Stanton (fresh off of injury), hit a lead off double.  Things looked promising, but The Heisey flied out, then Ianetta (the Beretta) walked, followed by a Miguel Cairo ground out to 3rd, forcing out Stanton.  With 2-outs, Omar Infante clutched up and put a base clearing double of the outfield wall (on Bill Bray's card).  Torto brought in Romo to close it out, and he slammed the door 1-2-3.
Torto W 5-3 in 14 innings. 

Solid series, but Goldy just didn't have enough offensive firepower to get by my now seemingly power-drained team.