Mets Actually Win A Game

METS 7

CUBS 6

It may not feel like much, considering what has happened to this team over the last three weeks, but tonights win against the Cubs was very important. The Mets came back from a 6-3 hole that Pedro Martinez put them into to beat the Cubs 7-6 and get to within a game of the Phillies for first in the NL East, and assuring them at least a tie with Milwaukee for the wild card.

With the Mets down 3-1 in the fourth inning, Ryan Church, who has been really struggling, finally came through with a double to right to bring home David Wright and Carlos Beltran to tie the game at three.

But, Martinez put the Mets into a huge hole. In the sixth he surrendered a single to Feliex Pie and walked Ryan Theriot. Jerry Mannuel, not liking what he was getting from Martinez pulled the struggling right-hander for lefty Ricardo Rincon. As a result Michael Hoffpauir provided some power as he blasted his second homerun of the night, this one a three-run blast to give Chicago a 6-3 lead. Two of those runs were charged to Martinez.

Still, the Mets would not go away. They fought back - something they have done a lot in 2008, but not lately. David Wright and Carlos Beltran singled. Chruch followed with a single of his own to load them up for Ramon Martinez, of all people. The rookie Martinez came through as he pasted a single between short and thrid, bringing home Beltran to make it 6-5.

Moments later Robinson Cancel scratched a single to right. Chruch came chugging around the muddy infield toward homeplate. The throw to home was on line and Chruch looked like a dead duck, but he manuvered around the catcher and slide into home hands first before the tag to tie the game at six .

Finally in the tenth, with Jose Reyes on second and Carlos Delgado on first, Carlos Beltran delievered with a shot that bounced off the glove of first baseman Derek Lee, and trickled down the right field line. Reyes came dancing into home as the celebration begun.

The Mets survived for at least one more night. It is still a tentative moment at best however.