It feels great to be back again after being sidelined for almost a week with a nasty flu and no internet service as well. However, it doesn’t feel all that good analyzing another ugly loss for the Mets, this time at the hands of the surging Nationals who won their second straight against the Mets. The Mets have made losing an art form. I’ll make this recap short yet not so sweet…

Mike Pelfrey started the game and was somewhat solid when you look at it in 2009 Mets terms. Pelfrey gave up just three runs on eight hits in seven innings, which classifies as a gem coming from the Mets rotation. It was vintage Pelfrey, a couple of ill-fated mental lapses sandwiched in between a few perfect innings. All three runs came in the fifth inning, with the big blow a two-run homer by shortstop Ian Desmond. It was a sinker that didn’t sink, otherwise known as a flat as a pancake fastball.

The Mets handed the victory to the Nats in the bottom of the eighth inning when Anderson Hernandez, who just came into the game to replace Wilson Valdez, made a costly throwing error which gave the Nats runners on first and second. The runner on second came around to score as Luis Castillo followed up with a throwing error of his own giving the Nationals the 4-3 lead.

Angel Pagan led the hit parade with two singles, a double, two runs scored and an RBI. As the season winds down, Pagan has shown no signs of slowing down and continues to make a strong case for the everyday leftfield job.

David Wright had a couple of hits, but was robbed of a third hit thanks to Elijah Dukes who made a spectacular grab of a deep drive to end the game with the tying run on first. Game over.

Speaking of Wright, I didn’t get a chance to weigh in on his lack of hustle last week. Shame on you David! I never expected an act like that from you. Have Omar, Jerry and the Mets broken your spirit too? Well that’s too bad! You, my friend, are getting paid millions to play the game, so play the game hard and play the game well.

The Mets will try to salvage the last game of their series today at 4:35 PM, when Tim Redding faces fellow New York native, John Lannan.