Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Corey Hart blasted a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth to shatter a scoreless deadlock and Yovani Gallardo pitched his first career shutout in a 2-0 Brewers win over the Mets.
Corey Hart Ends Mets’ Bid For Fourth Consecutive Shutout With Walk-Off Dinger
Hart’s homer was not only his first of the game-winning variety, but put an end to New York’s incredible run of 35 consecutive shutout innings.
It was the first Brewers blanking since Ben Sheets shut down the Padres in a 1-0 final back on September 6, 2008.
Mets starter Johan Santana was pulled after eight innings and 105 pitches, having held Milwaukee to three hits and two walks with five strikeouts.
New York was coming off a resounding three-game sweep of the NL East-leading Phillies, recording three straight shutouts for the first time since 1988.
The Mets threatened to finally end the deadlock in the top of the ninth with Jason Bay's one-out single and a walk to David Wright with two down. Gallardo, though, got Angel Pagan looking at strike three on an inside fastball clocked at 94 m.p.h.
“It was great for the whole team. I’m just glad I had enough left in the tank,” Gallardo said. “It means a lot to get my first career shutout. It just takes one little thing to turn things around, and hopefully that was it.”
Mets manager Jerry Manuel decided between innings that Santana’s night was finished despite having a lower pitch count than Gallardo entering the ninth.
“I didn’t want to come out, but Gallardo pitched a great game,” said Santana, who was in the dugout with a towel wrapped around his pitching arm as if he were poised to return.
Pedro Feliciano came on and got Prince Fielder to ground out. Ryota Igarashi (0-1) entered and watched Ryan Braun beat out an infield hit, but recovered to get Casey McGehee on a pop fly.
Hart then turned and unloaded on a 1-1 fastball down in the zone to provide the dramatics with a towering shot to left field.
“Off the bat, I thought I got it...but then I got nervous when I saw the outfielder. The nice thing is it gave (Gallardo) a win because he pitched so well,” Hart said. “I was surprised Santana was not out there in the ninth.”
New York’s effort to eclipse the franchise record of 42 consecutive scoreless innings began to take realistic shape with Santana making short work of a potent Milwaukee lineup.
McGehee was stranded after a leadoff double in the second inning and was the only runner to reach second base until Hart happily trotted by the bag at the end of the game.
Gallardo, meanwhile, had to work a bit harder. He got a double-play ball from Alex Cora to escape a bases-loaded jam in the third. In the eighth, Jeff Francoeur erased a leadoff hit by Rod Barajas with a double-play groundout, and after Santana lifted a ground-rule double to right-center, Jose Reyes struck out.
New York's pitching staff had another streak come to an end with Hart's home run. They had gone 86 innings in nine games without allowing a longball. The last home run a Mets pitcher allowed was in the third inning on May 18 at Atlanta when Troy Glaus took Santana deep...The Mets' 42-inning record stretch was achieved from September 23-28, 1969 by the Miracle Mets featuring pitchers Gary Gentry, Jerry Koosman and Tom Seaver...The Brewers won for the fourth time in five games Friday to kick off this three-game series...Gallardo moved to 1-1 in three starts versus the Mets, but has allowed just one earned run in 22 innings in those outings.
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