29.8.05

Met Bats Stay Silent Against Giants

Did we really need those 32 runs in 2 games against the Diamondbacks? Couldn't we have saved a few for the Giants?

On the heels of a five game winning streak, the Mets lost their second consecutive game to the hapless San Francisco Giants, this time by a 4-1 margin. They scored a total of three runs in their three game series yet miraculously, managed to win at least the series opener.


Seemingly relaxed David Wright and why not? Unlike his teammates, Wright is still hitting: He batted .481 with three homers and 10 runs during the road trip.

Giants starter Noah Lowry allowed five hits while striking out six in eight innings while the Mets, fielding a watered-down batting order without Cliff Floyd, Mike Piazza and phenom Mike Jacobs, went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position. They are now hitless in their last 24 times up with men in scoring position.

Now they return to New York after consecutive losses to begin a stretch against their National League East rivals. Nevertheless, a 5-2 road trip was nothing to sneeze at.

"Definitely disappointed with how it finished up, but you look at the big picture," David Wright said. "This was a very strong road trip for us and now we need to get some rest [today] and gear up for a big month ahead."

Kris Benson returned to the rotation after a week off and but for a rotten 6th inning in which he appeared to tire (until you witnessed his tantrum in the dugout after being pinch-hit for) and allowed two homeruns and three runs total, may have assuaged some concerns about the state of his health going into the biggest leg of their season.

The Mets lone run came in the top of the 6th when, a half inning after his diving catch saved a run, Carlos Beltran got his first extra base hit since returning from his crash with Cameron, a double. He eventually scored when Lowry's wild pitch on strike three to Woodward escaped Mike Matheny to give the Mets the 1-0 lead they promptly blew in the bottom of the 6th.

Fortunately for the Mets, the Phillies, Astros, Marlins and Nats all lost meaning they lost no ground in the NL Wildcard chase. They did fall to 6 games behind the Braves for the increasingly distant NL East lead.

*****

The Mets play host to the Phillies in a three-game series starting Tuesday, and they plan to pitch Jae Seo, Pedro Martínez and Tom Glavine.

Trachsel will be kept in the bullpen as reward for his brilliant opening outing of the season and Victor Zambrano will be saved for Friday in Florida, where he has a history of success.

In the NL WC race, The Braves will host the Nats, the Marlins host the Cardinals, the Astros host the streaking Reds and the Phillies of course, will be at Shea.

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