Mets Take Series Against Cards

The left field warning track got some serious work yesterday, first in the 2nd inning when Albert Pujols' fly ball died out there in the 2nd inning with the bases loaded and then again in the 9th when Yadier Molina's shot off a disconcerting Frankie Boy with two men on died to end the game. Both times, the Mets fragile hold on the game was saved.



And if you think that was close, think about the 4th inning when Nick Evans, the proverbial lightening in a bottle since getting his chance back up from the minors, hit a two run double to give the Mets a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Had it not been for Chris Carpenter deflecting David Wright's certain double play grounder, the rally would never have had wind in its sails to begin with.

F-Mart, showing zero proclivity at the plate, added at least two fielding gems out in centerfield which doesn't in its entirety redeem another O-fer outing which dropped his batting average down to .167, but at least partially justifies (well, that and Beltran's injury) his presence in the lineup. At least to Santana, who must have been ecstatic to get out of the 7th after Fmart's diving grab to end the inning.



And Santana, it should be said, showing himself to be a little dodgy in the first two innings, finally settled down to not only break a personal two-game losing streak, but perhaps putting to rest the concerns of injury that had been whispered around him for the last two weeks.

Just like that again, the Mets shocked themselves and their fans with an improbable series victory over the St Louis Cardinals.

This series victory in the wake of losing yet another every day starter, Carlos Beltran, must surprise everyone - as has often happened several times this season, just when you think the Mets are down and sinking fast, inexplicably, they rise to the occasion and even with lineup obliterated and littered with what appears to the naked eye, mediocre hitters, manage to outscore their opponents.

Sure, there were quibbling little irritants you could focus on, trying not to be drowned by the euphoria of such an improbable outcome, but for a day at least, let's just shrug our shoulders and admire the pluckiness of these Mets who continue to defy logic with another surprising outing from Fernando Nieve the night before, Evans' stunning return from a 7 for 75 start in Buffalo, Fill-in Mets taking turns making inexplicable starts with surprising results.



Of course, just when you start to feel good you need only remember that these sorts of surprising outcomes have been tempered by reality all season and this time around, that reality is the Yankees coming to Citi Field.

On the other hand, a great chance to redeem themselves after the humiliation they suffered in their last meeting at Yankee Stadium.

And if we're very, very lucky, redemption so indisputable that maybe they can even get a manager or a GM sacked, even if its not their own.

*****

Wow, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson down in one day - I wouldn't normally comment on a baseball blog about these two newly dead media icons but well, Jackson in any event, has a Mets link, the auld Mets hat in the "Bad" video and Farrah Fawcett, as everyone knows, was a HUGE Mets fan. (Oh, alright, that's not really true but it beats having to include Ed McMahon in the Pop Culture Mourning....)