Livan: Fantastic, But Joel Pineiro: Great

CARDINALS 3

METS 0

Despite what one might say this outing with regard to the Mets injury situation, Livan Hernandez was brilliant again for the Metropolitans, holding the St. Louis Cardinals to three runs, two earned, over seven innings.

He found a way to get out of a bases-loaded jam in the third inning, forcing Rick Ankiel to pop out, after a short rain delay, to end the inning. He even made Albert Pujols look bad on a swinging strikeout from a nasty overhand curve ball.

Yet, the Met offense was nonexistent. Joel Pinerio, who has made a career of dominating the Mets, was again in full control, throwing a complete game, two hit, shutout. Pinerio never had to sweat this one since no one in the Mets' depleted lineup posed much of a threat all night long.

At the end of the day, Pinerio threw exactly 100 pitches, 62 for strikes on the night, improving his overall record to 6-8 with a dazzling 3.40 ERA. He has been better than his win/lose record indicates.

What was most intriguing about Pinerio's night, and the Mets ineptitude at the plate, was the fact that Hernandez was able to hold St. Louis to just one run heading into the seventh. He gave the Mets every opportunity to make a comeback on Pinerio, but it never happened.

Eventually, the Cards figured out Hernandez in the seventh. Brendan Ryan singled, Skip Schumaker doubled to the left field corner, and Chris Duncan walked. Finally, Pujols delivered a two run single into left to give St. Louis a 3-0 lead ending the game. Box Score.

The Mets are basically asking their starters to go out a pitch complete game no-hitters if they are to have a chance to win. Without Reyes, Delgado, Beltran, and a slumping David Wright, the Mets have no run production at all. Don't expect Met pitchers to get many more wins this year, especially if things do not improve on the offensive side of the diamond.