Skid's 2015 Dream Season

July 29 - HOME GAME #52 vs San Diego Padres (47-53)

Bartolo Colon (9-9) takes the mound against Tyson Ross (6-8)

52-49

Lets Go Mets! Bartolo Colon did not have anything the Padres couldn't hit tonight. With 2 runs in each of the first 3 innings, the Mets never were able to catch up. In a strange circumstance, baseball media was reporting that the Mets had acquired former Met and All*Star CF Carlos Gomez from the Brewers for Wilmer Flores and injured pitcher Zack Wheeler. But they did not pull Flores from the line up. When Wilmer came to bat in the 7th, he was greeted with a standing ovation as he walked to the plate and another standing ovation when he grounded out. Turns out he did not know why he was being cheered so nicely. Wilmer was informed by teammates that he had been traded.

As he took his place at short, Wilmer brushed tears from his eyes. He has been in the Mets organization for 8 years, since he was 16. It was sad to see him have to deal with his emotions on the field. But it turns out he was not pulled from the game because there was no trade. The Mets nixed it over health concerns about Gomez' hip.

The Mets run production was limited to three Lucas Duda home runs. No Mets player had ever hit 3 HRs in a home game until Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who hit three just 17 days ago. Duda parked three balls from three diferent pitchers into the stands to become the second Met to do so at home.

Ticket Cost: $124
Time of game: 3:12
Attendance: 24,804

Game #52 view

I again had nice seats 10 rows behind the Padres dugout. A few Padres fans were sitting near but I kept to myself most of the game. I could see the commotion in the dugout after Flores heard of the trade, Terry Collins talked to him and I was surprised to see Flores run out to short to continue playing. Flores is one of the Mets I have followed through the minors and have been wishing for a breakout year. I left the stadium feeling sad over what I had just watched and the loss of two of my favorite players, Flores and Wheeler. I think Gomez is too much of a hot dog but if he could help the Mets win, well, that's OK. When I got home I saw on SNY that the trade had not gone through. It was a confusing night and the loss did not help.

Duda's third HR of the game

After last night's win the Mets had climbed to only a single game behind the Washington Nationals for the NL East lead. This loss dropped them 2 games back and the Nats are coming to Citi Field this weekend for three important games.

Wilmer Flores' last Mets at bat - not!

In one of the few times this year I have found myself on video, in the MLB video of Flores' at bat I am seen standing in the background, clapping for Wilmer in what I certainly thought at the time was his swan song with the Mets.