Nationals 3 Mets 2

Four straight losses for the Mets, and suddenly, the Nationals are on the verge of hopping over them in the standings.

Mets 8 Nationals 5

The Mets winning streak extends to 5 as the Mets go four games over .500 for the first time all year.

Sorry Mets fans — Endy Chavez will not be returning to the Mets anytime soon. Chavez has signed a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers.

It’s just as well, since the Mets already have enough slap-hitting defensive specialists in the outfield. It would have been really awkward if Endy didn’t show enough in the spring to earn a spot on the 25-man roster.

Also, former Yankee ace Chien-Ming Wang has signed a deal with the Washington Nationals — according to Chico Harlan, who also reports that Wang “already passed a physical”. How does one who can’t throw a baseball pass a physical conducted by someone other than the Mets?

Wang is not expected to return from shoulder surgery until at least May, which when converted from baseball time into real time means “September”. Still, not a bad gamble by the Nats, who are spending the same amount of guaranteed dough that the Mets are handing to Alex Cora. Washington could be setting themselves up for a run at the postseason in 2011.

In other news, Daisuke Takahashi is a Japanese figure skater and NOT related to Ken Takahashi, Hisanori Takahashi, nor Daisuke Matsuzaka. However the Mets may still consider sending him an ST invite once the Olympics end, if he can throw with his left hand or is willing to squat behind home plate.

Yankees 4 Mets 2

That whisking sound is coming from a broom brushed against a floor.

The Yankees retrieved bragging rights to New York City by sweeping the Mets in their home park and dominating them in five games out of six. And despite the fact that it was a close game for most of the nine innings, it never once felt as though the Mets had a chance.

Livan Hernandez was certifiably good against a tough Bronx Bombers lineup, going seven innings and allowing three runs on three hits and an uncharacteristic five walks. For a guy who barely made the roster out of spring training, and is supposed to be a fifth starter, that’s not too shabby.

Mariano Rivera joined Trevor Hoffman as the only pitchers to save 500 games, as Mo notched his 500th on this evening. So although the Mets lost, at least we were able to witness history. Yee ha.

Notes

Is Livan the Mets #2 starter? (Fernando Nieve doesn’t count until he makes at least six starts.)

Gary Sheffield stroked two of the Mets’ four hits. Luis Castillo (single) and Fernando Martinez (double) collected the others. Sorry, I meant five Mets hits … Danny Murphy fisted a bloop into left in the final inning.

In case you missed it, Frankie Rodriguez intentionally unintentionally intentionally walked Derek Jeter to load the bases in the ninth inning, then walked Mariano Rivera to force in a run. It was Rivera’s first career RBI.

500th save and first RBI. Not a bad night for Rivera.

Speaking of K-Rod, Luis Castillo did NOT botch a pop fly while he was on the mound. But Alex Cora did.

Danny Murphy (.310 OBP, zero footspeed) was the leadoff batter in this game. Perhaps Jerry Manuel is buying in to my belief that Murphy will one day evolve into Mike Hargrove.

Murphy has really looked great at first base. Except for the dropped balls and poor decisions in regard to chasing grounders and throwing balls across the diamond. But hey, those minor defensive issues are excusable when you have a powerful, productive bat such as his in the lineup.

Tonight’s words of wisdom from my father-in-law:

“I think it’s time we became Yankee fans”.

Tempting …. tempting …

Next Mets Game

The Mets travel to Milwaukee to face the Brewers on Monday night at 7:05 PM. Fernando Nieve faces Braden Looper.