Game 146: Loss

Pirates 5 Mets 3

Not a good game, in fact a poor attempt to clinch a pennant.

It all began with Pedro, who was apparently still nursing a calf injury and very ineffective. His poor start put the Mets in the dumps, and they never recovered, as they were unable to do much of anything against the young Pat Maholm

Pedro had no command whatsoever, and got lit up by the Pirates batters like a pinball machine. He pitched only three innings, giving up four runs on six hits and a walk. After being removed from the game, he sobbed in the dugout, head in his hands.

Maholm, meanwhile, made minced meat of the Mets. Seven strong innings of two-hit, one-run ball was enough to hold back the bats. Strange, as this guy came into the game allowing nearly two baserunners per inning. It was just one of those days.

The only bright spot in the game was, once again, Jose Reyes, whose strong September finish is opening eyes and establishing himself as a legitimate MVP candidate.

Notes

Heath Bell was given another opportunity to prove himself as a top-notch janitor, and he did well in three innings of mop-up duty, striking out four and allowing one run on — you guessed it — a solo homer.