Thursday, September 03, 2009
Figueroa pitches gem, strikes out career-best 10 in win over Cubs
Brandeis Alum Nelson Figueroa pitched arguably the best game of his 7-year Major League career on Sunday, tossing 7 innings while allowing just 1 run on 6 hits and striking out a career-high 10 batters against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Figueroa also helped himself at the plate with an RBI single off of 3-time All-Star Carlos Zambrano in the 4-1 win. The RBI was Figueroa's third (which ties a career-high) of the season in just 10 plate appearances. He is batting .333 on the year with a .400 OBP. On the hill for the Mets, Figueroa is 2-3 with a 4.50 ERA in 32 innings pitched, though his 1.2 inning 6 ER performance vs. the Diamondbacks back on August 3 has significantly inflated his ERA.
Figueroa's recent success, even at the age of 35, has led some to speculate that he may be pitching his way to a permanent spot on a Major League roster in 2010. With the Mets pitching staff decimated by injuries, Figueroa is expected to finish the 2009 season as a member of the starting rotation. His next scheduled start is on Saturday, September 5 against the Cubs in a 1:10pm matinee at Citi Field. He will square off against Cubs right-hander Rich Harden.
