Game 11: Loss to Brewers

Brewers 9 Mets 7

It was three hours and 45 minutes of pure agony.

The Brewers jumped out to a two-run lead in the top of the first thanks to another dinger by Gabe Kapler, but the Mets stormed right back with a run in the bottom of the first, two runs in the bottom of the second, and another three in the bottom of the third inning, to take a four-run lead.

However, Oliver Perez did not have his “A” game, and lost the lead as quickly as he got it. The Brew Crew tied it up, and it remained 6-6 until the sixth, when Milwaukee scored two more off Perez and reliever Jorge Sosa to grab the lead. They added an extra insurance run in the seventh, thanks to a dropped third out by Carlos Delgado on a grounder by Rickie Weeks. Weeks proceed to steal second and score on a base hit by — who else — Gabe Kapler. Where was Kapler when the Mets were looking for a RH-hitting outfielder this winter?

Beside O-Pea crapping the bed, the Mets were the victim of bad luck, hitting into double plays in each inning from the fourth through the eighth. That last one in the eighth stung especially, as it was a grounder right to Prince Fielder with Brady Clark charging home from third. All fat boy Fielder had to do was step on the first base bag and toss the ball home. If that ball was hit anywhere else — anywhere — it would have been either or a run or only one out. Still, the Mets had old friend Guillermo Mota on the ropes, eventually loading the bases that same inning, before Carlos “runners on base break my concentration” Delgado popped up weakly to end the threat.

Fielder got in the way of another ball earlier in the game — a rip by Carlos Beltran — that he also turned into a DP. Strangely, it wasn’t Prince’s birthday. My theory is that he’s so damn obese, it’s hard for him not to be near any ball hit in fair territory. Either that or there’s something in cellulite that attracts horsehide like a magnet.

Notes

Why in god’s name was Aaron Heilman on the mound in the ninth? Billy Wagner will be lucky to get into 30 games this year, while Aaron appears in over 100.

Corey Hart was 4-for-4 by the sixth inning, but did not wear his sunglasses (it was a day game). The sixth and seventh hitters in Milwaukee’s lineup reached base seven times in ten plate appearances.

Good to see Damion Easley purposefully looking to go the other way in the second inning with no outs and men on second and third. Easley tends to pull the ball with his long, loopy swing, but in this particular situation, he shortened up an inch on the bat and was using an inside-out swing to punch the ball on the ground to the right side. He inside-outed the first pitch to him foul, but eventually got another ball that he rolled to the second baseman, scoring Carlos Delgado and moving Ryan Church to third. It seems like a little thing, but it was a heady play by a winning ballplayer. Well done.

Luis Castillo is the only player I know who can hit a broken-bat double.

Before his three hits today, Brian Schneider grounded out to the right side every time up, yet he’s hitting over .320. Go figure.

Endy Chavez has become a double play machine. Go figure.

Jason Kendall is batting over .400 this year but follows the pitcher in the lineup. Go figure. (Ned Yost is an idiot).

The Shea crowd did not get on Guillermo Mota nearly as hard as I hoped. Other than an initial “boo” when he was introduced, the fans weren’t too vehement. Guess I was looking for the vile scorn issued to Braden Looper way back when.

Next Game

Our lovable losers have WELLLLLLL deserved day off on Monday, then come back to work on Tuesday, tax day … oh, I’m sorry, Jackie Robinson Day … to face the Nationals. The entire Mets team will be wearing #42, so if it’s your first Mets game ever the scorecard won’t help you identify who’s who. Mike “The Stopper” Pelfrey takes the mound against Odalis “On This Team I’m an Ace” Perez. Game time is 7:10 PM.