How About Them Mets

METS 7

PIRATES 4

All of a sudden the New York Mets are red hot again; just goes to show you what an easy schedule can do for ya'.

Tonight the Mets won their fifth straight ballgame, 7-4 over the pathetic Pittsburgh Pirates, and preserving their one game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Pedro Martinez, put together his best start of the entire season. In fact it looked like the old Pedro was back in toe for the Metropolitans. Martinez went seven glorious innings, scattering eight hits and a run while striking out four. He even pitched six shutout innings. The only blemish on Martinez's night was a solo homerun he gave up to Andy LaRoche in the seventh inning.
As for the Mets offense, they were on fire!! In the first inning, Jose Reyes, who has been asleep at the plate for most of the season, finally took off, as he homered to left field, near the foul pole to give New York a 1-0 lead. Later, with David Wright on, Carlos Beltran doubled to right center to drive home Wright to give the Mets a 2-0 lead. Finally, Fernando Tatis drove in Beltran, as he singled to center.

In the second inning, with Pedro Martinez on first base, Reyes laced a tripple to right, and Pedro, believe it or not, scored all the way from first. There was no play at the plate, because the ball came up the first base line, preventing any catastrophe from happening.

In the sixth, Ramon Castron, who loves to contribute big time when called upon, homered to left center; it is Castro's seventh of the year.

Pittsburgh made it interesting in the ninth, as they were able to put together three runs off of rookie Eddie Kunz, who could not close the deal. Jerry Manuel went to Joe Smith and Pedro Feliciano to end. Both Smith and Feliciano have been money for Manuel lately. Felicano got the save, his second of the year.

BTW, some bad news, as Billy Wagner will stay on the Disabled List with tightness in his arm. He tried to pitch tonight in a rehabilitation game, but had to come out because he just didn't feel right.