Of course, those jubilant fans were just kids running the bases after the game in the Mr. Met Dash.  The mounted police and their horses were in the parking lot making sure to leave deposits behind for me to step in after I left the game (bingo…).  Despite the lack of pomp and circumstance, the Mets can still feel good about their latest victory, one that gave them only their second series victory since late July.

Another thing they can feel encouraged about is the performance by John Maine over his five innings of work.  Maine held the Nationals hitless through the first four innings and earned his first win since May 31.

The Mets got hits early and often, as they scored four runs in the first three innings off Nationals’ starter Garrett Mock.  Daniel Murphy played a big part in the early scoring.  He tripled to lead off the second inning and later scored on an infield single by Josh Thole.  In the third inning, Murphy hit a long double to center, scoring David Wright and Carlos Beltran.

The game remained 4-0 until the eighth inning, when Wilson Valdez tripled to right field, scoring Jeff Francoeur and Josh Thole.  In addition to Murphy and Valdez, Angel Pagan provided some offensive punch.  His three hits raised his batting average back over .300.  He is now hitting .304.

After being held to only two hits through the first eight innings, the Nats made one last attempt to prevent the Mets from clinching fourth place.  Two runs and three hits later, it was time to call in closer extraordinaire Francisco Rodriguez.  With the fans ready to continue the time-honored tradition of shooting silly string after their team clinches fourth place, Rodriguez froze Cristian Guzman on a 1-2 pitch and the party was on at Citi Field.

Not to be lost in today’s clincher is the second straight pain-free and effective performance by John Maine since his activation from the disabled list.  In his two starts, Maine has pitched eight innings, giving up one run on only four hits.  He has also exhibited better control, walking only two batters in the starts.  Since he kept his pitch count low (70 pitches in five innings), he was able to stick around long enough to qualify for the victory.

Just because fourth place is clinched doesn’t mean the Mets should play lackadaisically for the remaining two weeks of the season.  (Who was that in the back of the room who said “they’ve been doing that all season so why change now?”  Don’t think I didn’t hear you just because I have silly string stuck in my ear.)  The Mets can use this time to continue to see how the players who have come back from injury (Carlos Beltran, John Maine) fare and they can also use these last 12 games to see if Josh Thole is ready to be a major leaguer or if he needs more minor league seasoning.

The Mets will open up a series against the red-hot Atlanta Braves at Citi Field Monday night.  Although the Braves just lost two out of three to the Phillies over the weekend (after winning seven straight, including a three-game sweep over the Mets at Turner Field last week), they’re still mathematically alive in the wild card race.  They stand 5½ games behind the Rockies for the National League wild card berth.  If the Mets can regroup from their post-clincher hangover, they can put a serious crimp in the Braves’ run for the postseason.  Pat Misch will square off against Derek Lowe in the 7:10 PM start.

Useless stat of the day (because I didn’t get to run on the field during the Mr. Met Dash): Each of the last two times the Mets finished in fourth place in the five-team NL East (1996 and 2004), they recovered with winning seasons the following year.  In 1996, the Mets finished 71-91 and improved to 88-74 in 1997.  Similarly, in 2004 the Mets also finished 71-91 and followed that up with a 12-game improvement in 2005 (83-79).  None of this means anything when it comes to the 2010 Mets, which is why it’s the useless stat of the day.

Green, 32, was hitting .270 (33-122) with six doubles, one triple, three home runs and 14RBI in 35 games for the Bisons this year. He has been on fire recently, hitting in his last nine games with the Herd. Green has averaged .444 (16-36) since August 9, with three doubles, six RBI and five runs scored.

Mets have also called up SS/2B Wilson Valdez on Tuesday to help with Cora being placed on the DL. Valdez was hitting .298 with 4 doubles and 6 rbis for Buffalo.

Valdez was also playing for the Mets earlier this season hitting .208 in 24 at bats. He had 1 double, 1 triple and 3 RBIs as a Met. Also Struck out 3 times and walked twice.

Welcome to the team boys!

The Mets Sweep! It may have not been the prettiest win of the season, but the Mets beat the Nationals 7-4 tonight and completed the sweep for their third straight win. Johan Santana clearly didn’t have it today, but luckily the offense picked him up and he was able to walk away with the win. Daniel Murphy had a big day at the plate with three hits including a double and a homerun that needed some help from the umpires. Murph ended the game with a career high 5 RBI’s.

Here is the rest of the story…

Pitching

First run, second run: 4th inning, Dunn homered to right, Zimmerman scored.
Third run: 4th inning, Guzman walked, Willingham scored, Maxwell to third, Zimmermann to second.
Fourth run: 9th inning, Johnson singled to center, Guzman scored.

Hitting

First run, second run: 1st inning, Sheffield doubled to deep right center, Castillo and Wright scored.
Third run: 3rd inning, Murphy singled to right, Pagan scored, Sheffield to second.
Fourth, fifth run: 6th inning, Murphy homered to right, Sheffield scored.
Sixth, seventh run: 7th inning, Murphy doubled to deep left, Pagan and Castillo scored, Sheffield to third.

1. Pagan: 2-4   .323
2. Castillo: 2-2   .295
3. Wright: 1-4   .345
4. Sheffield: 1-2   .295
    Putz: 0-0   .000
  c- Valdez: 0-1   .000
    Rodriguez: 0-0   .000
5. Murphy: 3-4   .262
6. Castro: 1-4   .253
7. F-Martinez: 0-4   .000
8. R-Martinez: 1-3   .121
9. Santana: 0-2   .067
  a- Tatis: 0-1   .275
    Parnell: 0-0   .000
    Feliciano: 0-0   .000
  b- Reed: 0-1   .298

a- Tatis pinched hit for the pitcher in the 6th inning.
b- Reed came in for defensive replacement in 8th inning. Double switch, Reed plays left and goes into the 9 hole, pitcher into the 4 hole.
c- Valdez pinched hit for the pitcher in the 8th inning.

HR: Murphy (4)
RBI: Sheffield 2 (18,19), Murphy 5 (13,14,15,16,17)
R: Castillo 2 (26,27), Wright (31), Pagan 2 (5,6), Sheffield (23), Murphy (21) 
2B: Sheffield (5), Castro (5), Murphy (5),
K: Pagan (9), Murphy (14), Castro 2 (15,26), R-Martinez (7), Santana 2 (3,4), Wright 3 (47,48,49), Reed (7)
BB: Castillo 3 (9,10,11), Sheffield 2 (21,22), R-Martinez (7), Pagan (6)

Baserunning/Fielding

CS: Castillo (2)
E: Murphy (4)
DP: 1 (Putz-Martinez-Murphy)

Additional Info

Happy birthday to Todd Hundley. Mets catcher/outfielder 1990-1998.

Omir Santos was out with a bruised shin after he fouled away a pitch that hit on Tuesday.

Johan Santana now has four 10+ strikeout games this season, 47 times in his career.

Another game where the umps needed a instant replay, Murphy’s homerun. IT’S GOOD! 4/4 on replays.

Fernando Martinez hit a pop up in front of the plate in the 6th inning, and could have reached first if he ran it out as the catcher dropped the ball.

First time in David Wright‘s career he struck out 4 times in a game and earned a Golden Sombrero.

Daniel Murphy had a career high 5 RBIs in the game.

Wilson Valdez had his first Mets at bat and grounded out.

Carlos Beltran will likely be back in the lineup for Friday night.

Game Ball

Daniel Murphy (HR – 5 RBIs)

Game ends: 10:31 P.M.

Up Next

Mets have the day off tomorrow and get some rest before taking on the Marlins Friday. Mike Pelfrey (4-1, 4.31) will go up against the Marlins Sean West (0-0, 3.60).

Today’s Quote

“I just want to make sure that everything is going to be fine and it’s not going to get worse,” Beltran said. “Mentally I know something is wrong.” (Beltran talking about having an MRI on his knee Tuesday)

Pitching

First run: 7th inning, Dunn homered to left.

Hitting

First run: 2nd inning, R-Martinez doubled to right center, Santos scored.
Second run: 3rd inning, Tatis singled to shallow center, Pagan scored, Castillo to third, Sheffield to second.
Third run: 3rd inning, Martinez grounded into fielder’s choice to first, Castillo scored, Tatis out at second, Sheffield to third.
Fourth, fifth, sixth run: 7th inning, Sheffield homered to left, Castillo and Wright scored

1. Pagan: 2-4   .296
2. Castillo: 1-3   .283
3. Wright: 2-4   .349
4. Sheffield: 2-3   .291
   a- Reed: 0-0   .304
5. Tatis: 1-3   .278
6. F-Martinez: 0-3   .000
7. Santos: 1-4   .268
8. R-Martinez: 1-4   .100
9. Hernandez: 0-4   .111

a- Reed came in for defense in ninth inning.

HR: Sheffield (5)
RBI: R-Martinez (2), Tatis (10), F-Martinez (1), Sheffield 3 (15,16,17)
R: Santos (10), Pagan (4), Castillo 2 (24,25), Wright (30), Sheffield (22) 
2B: Santos (4), R-Martinez (1)
K: F-Martinez 2 (1,2), Wright 2 (45,46), Pagan (8)
BB: Castillo 2 (18,19), Sheffield (20), Pagan (5)
HBP: F-Martinez, Tatis

Baserunning/Fielding

SB: Wright (11), Pagan (4)
DP: 3 (Castillo-Martinez-Tatis), (2 Martinez-Castillo-Tatis)

Additional Info

Jose Reyes and Ryan Church were sent to the 15-day DL.

Mets brought up top prospect Fernando Martinez who Made his major league debut.

Mets purchased 31-year-old shortstop Wilson Valdez from the Indians.

John Franco will represent the Mets in the 2009 Amateur draft.

Center fielder Carlos Beltran (tibia) is already expected to miss the next two games.

Alex Cora will delay surgery until after the season, he will be back next week.

Livan Hernandez is the first Mets starting pitcher to go into the 8th or 9th inning.

He tossed the first complete game of 2009 for the Mets.

1,000 career hit for Adam Dunn.

Oliver Perez‘s start in AAA-Buffalo: 4.1 innings, 1 run, 3 hits, 5 walks, 5 strikeouts, 2.08 ERA.

Aflac trivia question: Who is the only player to win 3 batting titles and retire batting under .300?
Aflac trivia answer: Carl Yastrzemski (.286)

Game Ball

Livan Hernandez (complete game victory)

Game ends: 9:51 P.M.

Up Next

Johan Santana (6-2, 1.50) will go up against rookie pitcher Jordan Zimmerman (2-1, 5.71) for the sweep at CitiField.