Mets Fall Hard In Loss

Marty Noble at Mets.com, writes about the Mets 15-7 loss to the Tigers:

The problem was, the best games of the last week didn't produce enough victories. Indeed, Sunday's 15-7 loss to the Tigers was the Mets' sixth defeat in seven games. Normal for the Mets had been redefined of late. And with their .600 percentage gone, their hold on first place slipping and the sense of self smudged, they couldn't dismiss their latest blemish so readily. It was a smarting team that would leave Motown for L.A. on Sunday night.

The Mets' frustration was captured by a pose losing pitcher Tom Glavine struck during the Tigers' six-run rally in the fifth inning after his attempt to thwart a squeeze play was unsuccessful. After any chance for his 295th career victory had gone rolling in foul territory thanks to his rushed flip toward the plate, Glavine took a knee near the first-base line and stared toward the outfield.

Two batters later, his work day was done. Four innings later, his third straight loss was complete, and his lengthy big-league resume had another nine-spot on it. Only four times in 649 starts has Glavine allowed nine runs, and he had never done so as a Mets. Glavine (5-4) allowed 11 of the Tigers' 21 hits, including a triple and a home run by Gary Sheffield, in 4 1/3 innngs, surrendering runs in each inning but the fourth. He is winless in his last four starts.

The Mets did score for Glavine, something they hadn't done much in the first three of the four -- three runs, total during Glavine's time on the mound. David Wright and Carlos Gomez each hit a three-run home run -- in the first and sixth innings, respectively. Gomez's, off Jason Grilli, was his big-league first.