The five game winning streak that rejuvenated a fan base is now just a forgotten memory as the Mets lose their second straight tonight at Citi Field. The Diamondbacks took the first game of the series 3-2 after scoring the winning run on a wild pitch by Sean Green.
Livan Hernandez started the game and delivered his third straight solid performance. Hernandez held the D-Backs to just two runs on four hits in six innings of work. The two runs came courtesy of two solo homers, one by Mark Reynolds (his 29th), and another by Miguel Montero (his 10th).
The Mets scored both of their runs on solo homers, one by Daniel Murphy who crushed his sixth homer of the season to rightfield. The other homer was by David Wright, his seventh of the season. Wright also had two walks in the game. That was all of the scoring as the Mets were held to just four hits in the game.
The Mets did have a chance to break the game open in the bottom of the sixth when they loaded the base of D-backs starter Doug Davis. But Jerry Manuel decided to pinch hit Angel Berroa for Livan Hernandez, and Berroa grounded into a fielder’s choice on the first pitch for the third out.
The Mets were 0-4 with runners in scoring position and left eight runners on base tonight.
With the score tied 2-2 tie in the eighth, reliever Pedro Feliciano allowed a single and was replaced by an ineffective Sean Green who then loaded the bases with a walk and a hit batsman. Daniel Murphy than made a spectacular 3-2-3 double play and it looked like the Mets were going to get out of the inning without any damage. But Green uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Justin Upton to score from third base and put the D-Backs up 3-2.
That was about it, as the Mets went quietly in the eighth and ninth innings.
Frankie Rodriguez has still not pitched in a save situation since before the All Star break.
Angel Pagan and Luis Castillo are 1-for-15 in the last two games batting first and second, and Jeff Francoeur is hitless since Manuel put him into the cleanup spot, although as GKR mentioned, he has hit the ball as hard as you can.
The offense has reverted back to the one we grew accustomed to before the five game winning streak. During the pre game, Bobby Ojeda said that the Mets needed to trade for someone if only to reward the team for trying so hard this past week. Another bat, especially Victor Martinez, would have provided a nice boost and helped the Mets try to secure that wild card spot. However, it wasn’t meant to be.
Oliver Perez takes the hill tomorrow at 7:10 PM.
The Mets lost the second game of the day-night doubleheader last night by the final score of 4-2, preventing them from completing a four-game sweep over the Colorado Rockies. Despite the loss, they still took three out of four games in the series, which was crucial as the Rockies are one of the teams the Mets are pursuing for the National League Wild Card berth. Even though they recently won five straight, some people remain skeptical about the Mets’ chances to win the Wild Card. It wasn’t too long ago that another team was sloshing their way through the season, an afterthought when the Wild Card standings were posted. Remember the 2007 Rockies? The Mets sure do.








