Marlins 3, Mets 2

You know, one of these days, the Mets are going to have to learn to score some runs. It seems like every game there are one or two guys who have a big game while the rest of the lineup goes hitless. Roger "0 for 4" Cedeno was back in centerfield and at the top of the lineup, so the Mets were in an offensive hole from the start. Roberto Alomar had his best offensive game of the season thus far in the second slot, lining a double and a triple to the gap in right-center to lead off the fourth and sixth innings, respectively. But the big bats behind him failed to do anything with the no-out, runner in scoring position opportunities, so it was all for naught. Jeromy Burnitz revived his good start with a solo homer to right in the fifth. I was thinking, if Burnitz continues to hit well and has a good season this year, he could use a nickname to help him get over more with the fans. I was thinking "J-Burn." It capitalizes on the J-Lo craze, but sounds a whole lot cooler and more dangerous. Rey Sanchez, the only other Met wit a hit, drove in Ty Wigginton, who had been hit by a pitch, in the seventh.

Steve Trachsel came back from a weak first start and pitched very well, giving up just one run on six hits and three walks with four strikeouts in six innings, but the bullpen couldn't hold the slim lead. Jaime Cerda, who has looked good this first week of the season, came in in the seventh and got in a little trouble before leaving with a runner on third and two outs. Scott Strickland came in and did what he does, which is allow runs to score. The run was the responsibility of Cerda, so Strickland's line is clean for this game, but he continues to make Armando Benitez look like a reliable clutch performer by comparison. Mike Stanton had his first rough outing of the year in the ninth, as he came in and got the first two hitters, but then gave up three consecutive hits, allowing Ivan Rodriguez, who homered earlier for the only run off of Trachsel, to drive in his second run of the game, scoring Luis Castillo for the win.

Tomorrow, the 4-4 Mets put Tom Glavine up against Josh Beckett in the third and final game of this series before heading off to Puerto Rico to face the Expos. The park in San Juan is supposed to be something of a hitters' paradise, so maybe that will get the Mets' offense going to the point where more than two guys contribute in any one game. Or maybe Cedeno will come down with a mysterious but non-debilitating illness that will force Art Howe to put someone who can actually get on base in the leadoff spot.  ¶ joe | 10:59 PM |