Reyes and Mets Redeem Themselves

So the Mets pen blows a three run lead one night, saves a three run lead the following night.

There was a lot of chatter after Tuesday's game about goats.

Third base coach Luis Aguayo for twice getting Endy Chavez thrown out at the plate by a mile. Both Jerry Manuel and Johan Santana for going to the pen in the 9th to watch a three run lead and certain victory disintegrate. And of course, Duaner Sanchez and Pedro Feliciano for failing to do their jobs.

But to me, Jose Reyes' bonehead brain freeze in the 9th that sustained the Phillies' rally and ultimately led to victory was the biggest offence of all because we've seen this kind of molasses on-the-field thinking from him before cost the Mets a game.


Mets are back in first place

Last night, different story.

Reyes popped a three run homer in the 6th that proved decisive. John Maine, who has pitched with great disappointment over his last four starts showed some of his 2007 form and continued his domination of the Phillies (5-0 in 9 career starts) and instead of bemoaning a gutting loss from the night before, the Mets rolled on to a 6-3 victory and erased all those bad memories, derailed the Phillies momentum, and proved that at least for a night, the pen can hold a three run lead.

Of course, the Phillies, or specifically, Phillies starter Brett Myers derailed themselves from the beginning last night. Myers put the Phillies in an early hole by walking four batters in the 1st inning and allowing two runs without a hit to give the Mets the early lead. That the Mets were only able to score a pair of runs despite four walks was a bad omen from the start but these lingering fears of doom proved unfounded.

True to form, the Phillies battled back from deficits in both the 2nd and 5th innings before Reyes' demoralising blast in the 6th smoked the Phillies for good.


This old man, unlike the rest of the pen, able to preserve a 3-run lead

And after all the fretting and worrying, Hillbilly Wagner came out in the 9th to prove he wasn't as broken down as feared and to secure the victory with his 25th save of the year.

All in all, a nice recovery. A brilliant response to Tuesday night's demoralising loss.

Another sign that the Phillies will not hold on to first place much longer this season?

Wishful thinking.