Game 153: Loss

Nationals 3 Mets 2

The Mets have lost three in a row very few times this year — maybe three times? — so this was a rare occurence indeed.

Luckily, these last games mean nothing in the grand scheme of Planet Mets; all we really care about at this point is getting the starters tuned up and getting people like Chris Woodward some extra at-bats, just in case we need them for postseason pinch-hitting.

Orlando Hernandez certainly looked tuned, mowing down the Nats for seven solid innings, allowing only three runs on six hits and a walk, while striking out eight. Hopefully he’s not peaking, because right now he looks like the one “sure thing” among the potential playoff starters.

In fact, if names/reputations and seniority were not considerations, and it were up to me, El Duque would be my #1 starter come playoff time. If Pedro could show he was healthy, that wouldn’t be my choice, but considering Pedro’s health and Tom Glavine’s frequent vincibility, I’ll put the best horse forward. Of course, that won’t be the case … but at least we’ll have a kickass #3.

How the Mets were unable to score more than two off of Pedro Astacio is beyond comprehension. Everyday Endy was one of the few who figured him out, going 3-5 and continuing to build a case for the postseason starting lineup. However, Cliff Floyd also swung the bat well, going 2-4, and we can only put one leftfielder out there at a time.

Notes

Ricky Ledee homered while pinch-hitting for El Duque to put the Mets within one. It was the first above-inadequate thing he’s done since joining the Mets. However I still don’t see him as a better option than Michael Tucker.

Guillermo Mota and Aaron Heilman continue to be perfect. These guys don’t shut the door, they slam it so hard it comes loose from the hinges.