Game Recap:: Nationals 9 -- Mets 6

Just guess...

We had a 5 run lead, and blew it...again. The Mets lost 9-6 to the Nationals, getting swept out of their own stadium. Oh, and to make matters worse, the Phillies won as well, so the lead is down to 1 game.

Mike Pelfrey pitched well for 4 innings, went out for the 5th, gave up 2 hits, and was removed from the game. Joe Smith came in, didn't get an out, and the Nationals were on their way to a 5 run innings. Humber was charged with 5 earned runs on 6 hits and 2 walks. Humber didn't strike anyone out, and gave up a solo home run to Ryan Church.

...i didn't expect much from him, and he gave us exactly what every other Met pitcher has given us the past few weeks...

As mentioned above, Joe Smith entered the game, allowed 2 hits and 2 inherited runners to score. He was promptly removed from the game.

...he has officially lost his "The Man" status...

Pedro Feliciano gave up 1 hit, and struck out 2 batters to finish out the 5th inning.
Scott Schoeneweis pitched a hitless inning, striking out 1.

...not bad, some pitched well, others did not...and when they pinched poorly, it was reallllllllly poor...

Orlando Hernandez came in for a rare regular season relief appearance, pitching one inning of hitless ball. He walked two batters and also struck out two batters.

...he stepped up in a tight spot and did what he had to do...

Aaron Heilman was very good, allowing one hit, but no runs to score in the 8th inning.
Billy Wagner came in to try and keep the game close in the top of the 9th, and did anything but, allowing 2 runs to score on two hits and 2 walks. Wagner didn't strike out a batter, and benefited from a double play to get out of the inning.

...did you really expect Wagner to come in without a tie or a lead and not give up runs??...

Again, the Mets offense jumped out to a big lead in the first inning, with back-to-back home runs from Carlos Beltran and Moises Alou.

Jose Reyes went 0-4 tonight with a walk.

...just when you think he's coming out of a slump...he goes even deeper...

David Wright went 1-4 with a walk, scoring twice. His hitting streak is up to 13 games.

...he also grounded into a double play, which has been common lately...

Carlos Beltran had a huge night, going 2-4, with 2 home runs. He drove in 3 RBI's and scored twice. A 2-run blast in the first and a solo shot in the third inning.

...great night at the plate...

Moises Alou kept his streak alive, up to 30 games at this point, going 2-4, driving in 2 RBI and scoring once. He went followed Beltrans HR, with one of his own, blasting a solo shot in the first to extend the streak early.

...just keep hitting...

...a 5 run lead out the door...Rick Peterson to blame or are the pitchers just that bad??...
...fans, we must keep our heads up...we must rally around this team in their worst slump this season...we need to somehow inspire them...

...if you are going to any of the next games, please, cheer louder, clap louder, sing the songs, laugh at Professor Reyes, "get up" when the count gets to 2 strikes, start chants, listen to Cow-Bell Man, and do everything in your power to get behind this team to try and carry them into the playoffs...

Game Balls:: Beltran and Alou, no doubt.