It All Boils Down To Wagner

For the third game in a row of this Subway Series victory came down to the last man.

This time, unlike Game Two, a beautifully pitched game wasn't snuffed out with incompetence. This time, Billy Wagner was able to get the last man out before the tying or go-ahead run came home.

Yes, there was the three run bomb by Carlos Delgado to produce the first lead after Derek Jeter had a two-run single go past the gloves of both David Wright and Jose Reyes.


Delgado looks to rub Beltran's head in the Battle of the Carlos'

Then there was the larger bomb to left field, over the bullpens, a prolific shot from David Wright that produced the final run for the Mets, the telling number to give the Mets their 4-3 victory and their two out of three series victory at home over the Yankees.

Of course, none of it would have been possible without a bated-breath ninth inning that saw Billy Boy trotted out for the third time in three days to try and hammer the last three nails in.

He didn't make it look easy of course. Not like Game One when we thought this might be a sign that the division is ours when our closer blows away the 9th inning batters. He gave up a pair of hits and offered a pair of strikeouts in return before finally inducing the game-ending grounder and securing the Mets victory again.

But just as easily, he could have done to Tom Glavine what he did to Pedro, which was wipe out certain victory and send the Mets reeling.

The Army never believed things were all so bleak as painted by some after Saturday's game. After all, this is a resiliant team and Wagner proved for a night anyway, that he is a resiliant closer.

Impressively, the Wagner save gave Tom Glavine (7-2) his 282nd win after giving up two runs and seven hits. He walked four and finished with four strikeouts, pushing his career total to 2,401 and tying Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley for 35th place.
Glavine also became the second seven-game winner in NL, joining Arizona's Brandon Webb. He has now gone at least six innings in 25 straight starts. Pretty remarkable consistency.

*****

After the ace in the wings, Mike Pelfrey sizzled in his own grease and lasted a mere two thirds of an inning for Binghamton in his trial the other night, the Mets had little choice but to name Alay Soler and send him to the mound Wednesday or Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies at Shea Stadium.