Mets Season On the Brink

CUBS 9

METS 6

When a team has two different bases loaded opportunities late in a ballgame, it is expected to capitalize on those situations and score some runs. That is a fundamental principle of baseball, a fundamental principle that the New York Metropolitans DO NOT live by.

The Mets had two different bases loaded situations late in their Wednesday night game against the Chicago Cubs and came away with only one run, as the Cubs came all the way back to beat up the Mets 9-6 at Shea Stadium...THE CHICAGO WAY.

With the game tied at one in the third, Carlos Delgado belted a grand slam homerun to left center to give New York a 5-1 lead. It appeared that this was the blow that the Mets would need to carry them through this game, but that was not to be the case.

In the fifth, the Cubs came right back. Ryan Theriot singled to left, and Derek Lee and Aramis Ramirez walked. Oliver Perez clearly had no command at this point. He ended up walking five batters in this game, two of which came in this inning.

Mark DeRosa, who homered in the second, doubled to left to bring home Theriot and Lee. cutting the Met lead to 5-3. Duaner Sanchez was brought in to relieve Perez after this hit.

Sanchez didn't fair any better when Reed Johnson singled to bring in Ramirez and pinch runner Kasuke Fukudome to tie the game.

Still, the Mets had chances. In the bottom of the fifth, Marlon Anderson walked and David Wright singled to put runners on first and third for Carlos Delgado. But, Delgado flied out to center to end any possible threat.

The Cubs took advantage. In the seventh, Alfonso Soriano doubled to left to bring home Ronny Cedeno to give Chicago a 6-5 lead.

In the bottom of the inning, the Mets had another shot. September call-up Ramon Martinez doubled and Jose Reyes reached on a bunt single. But, Dan Murphy lined into a double play and David Wright flew out to end the inning.

In the eighth, the Mets had another chance. After Delgado doubled, Carlos Beltran singled to center. Delgado had a clear chance to score the tying run but was held up by the thrid base coach in a terrible call.

As a result, Ryan Church struck out and Ramon Castro grounded out to Ramirez, putting the Mets in a two out hole. Lou Pinella decided to walk Endy Chavez to load them up for the rookie Martinez; nonetheless, pitcher Jeff Samardzija walked Martinez to tie the game.

The Mets STILL had a chance. But Reyes grounded out to end the threat. Game tied at six.

The Mets got ONE MORE chance! In the ninth, Muprhy tripled to right center, as the ball got past Fukadome. Delgado and Beltran were intentionally walked to load them up with one out.

Turned out to be a great decision. Church grounded out into a fielder's choice, as Murphy was tagged out at home. Castro followed up with a swinging strike out to end yet another opportunity.

The Cubs did the Mets in in the tenth. Theriot singled to center to start it off. Later, Lee doubled down the right field line to bring in Theriot for the go-ahead run. Moments later,Ramirez told everyone to drive home safely as he ripped a two-run homerun into the outfield bleachers: 9-6 Chicago.

The loss is a devastating one. The Brewers beat the Pirates 4-2, behind C.C. Sabathia, to draw even with the Mets for the wild card. The Mets also wasted an opportunity to catch Philadelphia. The Phillies got blown out by Atlanta 10-4 and maintain a game and a half lead on the Mets.

If the Mets miss the playoffs, this game against Chicago will be THE story of the 2008 season.