GaryMrMets
06-12-2006, 01:58 AM
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/story/425719p-359144c.html
Soler does it solo
Met rookie fires two-hit shutout
BY ADAM RUBIN
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
PHOENIX - After Alay Soler delivered his 108th and final pitch, becoming the first Mets rookie in 12 years to toss a shutout, Orlando Hernandez greeted him near the mound, offering a hug for his fellow Cuban defector.
"The Cuban connection, man," El Duque said. "I'm excited for him."
After a pair of less-than-stellar outings to open his big-league career, Soler finally felt comfortable in Los Angeles last week, when the Mets staked him to a three-run lead before he took the mound and he cruised to his first major-league win. The formula worked so well, the Mets used it again last night.
The Mets again scored three first-inning runs, and Soler hurled a two-hitter in beating the Diamondbacks, 5-0. Soler became the first Mets rookie to toss a shutout since Jason Jacome blanked the Dodgers on July 7, 1994.
The Mets handed Arizona ace Brandon Webb (8-1) his first loss. They will attempt a four-game sweep for the second straight season at Chase Field when Pedro Martinez opposes Russ Ortiz today.
"I am more confident the past couple outings," Soler said through an interpreter.
The Mets (38-23) moved 15 games over .500 for the first time this season. They own the NL's best record. And they maintained a 5-1/2-game lead over the Phillies in the East.
Soler (2-1) became the second Met to toss a complete game this season - as well as the second pitcher this series to accomplish the feat, and the second Cuban defector. Hernandez took a scoreless effort into the ninth and ultimately tossed his first complete game since Sept. 16, 2000, with a 7-1 win in Thursday's series opener.
Soler allowed only a leadoff double in the third by Orlando Hudson, then a one-out double in the eighth by pinch-hitter Jeff DaVanon - and walked three. Hudson was quickly erased on a questionable call by third base ump Gary Cederstrom, when Paul LoDuca pounced from behind the plate on Webb's bunt and fired to third, where David Wright applied a tag on Hudson, seemingly after the runner had reached the base. ("You guys will find negative in anything," Wright kidded, adding he had not seen the replay.) Soler later stranded DaVanon at third by getting Craig Counsell on a groundout to Carlos Delgado at first, then retiring Eric Byrnes on an inning-ending flyout to center.
The Mets were held scoreless for seven innings by Webb on May 31, in a stellar duel with Martinez that the Mets won, 1-0, in 13 innings at Shea. This time, the Mets scored three first-inning runs - their fourth straight game on this trip putting runs on the scoreboard before their pitcher even took the mound.
With one out, Lo Duca sent a grounder to third base that Chad Tracy fielded while stepping into foul territory. With time to throw to first, Tracy misfired and Lo Duca advanced to second on the error. Webb then allowed the three unearned runs - on Carlos Beltran's RBI double and two-out, run-scoring hits by Wright and Jose Valentin. The Mets tacked on runs in the eighth and ninth innings. Delgado's sacrifice fly scored Jose Reyes, who turns 23 today. Reyes, on the anniversary of his 2003 major-league debut, added an RBI single an inning later that scored Endy Chavez.
But the story was Soler, who has combined with El Duque to shore up the back end of the Mets' rotation. Soler - who ended up limiting the Dodgers to one run in seven innings five days earlier - this time blanked Arizona in only his fourth big-league start.
As Soler has settled down, the improvement in his performances has been dramatic. In a combined 11 innings against the Phillies and Diamondbacks in Flushing to launch his major-league career, Soler allowed 10 runs (nine earned) on 13 hits and seven walks in 11 innings.
"He pitched the way he was advertised coming in," Willie Randolph said. "After the first couple shaky starts, it was nice to watch. Hopefully that end of the rotation will start to really fill in a little bit."
Originally published on June 11, 2006
http://www.nydailynews.com/ips_rich_content/906-soler_laduca.JPG
Alay Soler is congratulated by batterymate Paul Lo Duca after tossing complete-game two-hitter against D-Backs in Arizona.
Soler does it solo
Met rookie fires two-hit shutout
BY ADAM RUBIN
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
PHOENIX - After Alay Soler delivered his 108th and final pitch, becoming the first Mets rookie in 12 years to toss a shutout, Orlando Hernandez greeted him near the mound, offering a hug for his fellow Cuban defector.
"The Cuban connection, man," El Duque said. "I'm excited for him."
After a pair of less-than-stellar outings to open his big-league career, Soler finally felt comfortable in Los Angeles last week, when the Mets staked him to a three-run lead before he took the mound and he cruised to his first major-league win. The formula worked so well, the Mets used it again last night.
The Mets again scored three first-inning runs, and Soler hurled a two-hitter in beating the Diamondbacks, 5-0. Soler became the first Mets rookie to toss a shutout since Jason Jacome blanked the Dodgers on July 7, 1994.
The Mets handed Arizona ace Brandon Webb (8-1) his first loss. They will attempt a four-game sweep for the second straight season at Chase Field when Pedro Martinez opposes Russ Ortiz today.
"I am more confident the past couple outings," Soler said through an interpreter.
The Mets (38-23) moved 15 games over .500 for the first time this season. They own the NL's best record. And they maintained a 5-1/2-game lead over the Phillies in the East.
Soler (2-1) became the second Met to toss a complete game this season - as well as the second pitcher this series to accomplish the feat, and the second Cuban defector. Hernandez took a scoreless effort into the ninth and ultimately tossed his first complete game since Sept. 16, 2000, with a 7-1 win in Thursday's series opener.
Soler allowed only a leadoff double in the third by Orlando Hudson, then a one-out double in the eighth by pinch-hitter Jeff DaVanon - and walked three. Hudson was quickly erased on a questionable call by third base ump Gary Cederstrom, when Paul LoDuca pounced from behind the plate on Webb's bunt and fired to third, where David Wright applied a tag on Hudson, seemingly after the runner had reached the base. ("You guys will find negative in anything," Wright kidded, adding he had not seen the replay.) Soler later stranded DaVanon at third by getting Craig Counsell on a groundout to Carlos Delgado at first, then retiring Eric Byrnes on an inning-ending flyout to center.
The Mets were held scoreless for seven innings by Webb on May 31, in a stellar duel with Martinez that the Mets won, 1-0, in 13 innings at Shea. This time, the Mets scored three first-inning runs - their fourth straight game on this trip putting runs on the scoreboard before their pitcher even took the mound.
With one out, Lo Duca sent a grounder to third base that Chad Tracy fielded while stepping into foul territory. With time to throw to first, Tracy misfired and Lo Duca advanced to second on the error. Webb then allowed the three unearned runs - on Carlos Beltran's RBI double and two-out, run-scoring hits by Wright and Jose Valentin. The Mets tacked on runs in the eighth and ninth innings. Delgado's sacrifice fly scored Jose Reyes, who turns 23 today. Reyes, on the anniversary of his 2003 major-league debut, added an RBI single an inning later that scored Endy Chavez.
But the story was Soler, who has combined with El Duque to shore up the back end of the Mets' rotation. Soler - who ended up limiting the Dodgers to one run in seven innings five days earlier - this time blanked Arizona in only his fourth big-league start.
As Soler has settled down, the improvement in his performances has been dramatic. In a combined 11 innings against the Phillies and Diamondbacks in Flushing to launch his major-league career, Soler allowed 10 runs (nine earned) on 13 hits and seven walks in 11 innings.
"He pitched the way he was advertised coming in," Willie Randolph said. "After the first couple shaky starts, it was nice to watch. Hopefully that end of the rotation will start to really fill in a little bit."
Originally published on June 11, 2006
http://www.nydailynews.com/ips_rich_content/906-soler_laduca.JPG
Alay Soler is congratulated by batterymate Paul Lo Duca after tossing complete-game two-hitter against D-Backs in Arizona.