Mets Blow Lead In More Ways Then One

PHILLIES 8

METS 7

Here we go again Met fans!!! It is almost September and it is almost time for the Mets to have their annual plane crash in the standings.

With a 1/2 game lead over the Phillies for first, and holding a 7-0 lead with Perdo Martinez on the mound, the Mets still found a way to lose. What else is new? Nothing.

Thing's got really interesting in a hurry, when Martinez started to struggle to get out of the fifth inning. First he allowed Clay Condrey to get his first double of the year, as a ground ball went past outfielder Fernando Tatis. Later, Jimmy Rollins, who was 5 of 7 in this contest, homered to right to pull Philadelphia to within 7-3.

Pedro soon got wild walking Chase Utley, and serving up a cookie to Ryan Howard who blasted the ball all the way to Allentown PA. 7-5 Mets, all of a sudden.

Still the Mets found ways to avoid serious damage. Brian Stokes was able to get out of a huge jam as he struck out Pat Burrell with two on in the sixth. In the eighth Joe Smith got Burrell to fly out to deep center field, avoiding a possible go-ahead homerun.

In the ninth it was up to Luis Ayala to get through the Phillie batting order. This was a huge save situation for Ayala, and it would really change his image from a typical reliever to a potential closer, but he failed. After getting Ryan Howard to fly out to the warning track in center, Jayson Werth continued to kill the Mets as he singled up the middle with two out. Eric Bruntlett, who was hitting just .214 coming into the at-bat laced a double into the right/center field gap to drive home Werth. The play at the plate was not even close, as Damion Easley's relay throw to Brian Schnieder went passed the catchers glove allowing Werth to score.

Seven Up. New Ballgame.

Aaron Hielman came in for the Mets, and put together a yoeman's effort going three innings, giving up three hits and walking two, but he also struck out four to get out one jam after another.
But, the cuda gras came in the 13th inning. With Scott Schoenwise on the mound for the Mets, Shane Victorino trippled down the first baseline to get things started. Victorino really stepped on the jets here, once the ball was past first, Victorino was already turning for third base!

The Mets decided to walk Bruntlett, and Werth to load the bases for pitcher Brett Myers. A good strategy by the Mets. If they could get Myers for the first out they left open the possibiltiy of getting a double play ball to get out of the jam. The Mets were able to get the first part of the plan executed, as Myers struck out looking on a 3-2 pitch, but Chris Coste had other ideas.

Coste took Schoenwise's first pitch and drove it over the head of Carlos Beltran to bring home Victoriono for the winning run.

It was just another episode in the Phillies pesky dominance over the Mets in the last two seasons. The Phillies are now in first place all by themselves, a half game ahead of the Mets. Photo is of Chris Coste.