Padres 7, Mets 4
Giants 6, Mets 2
Mets 4, Giants 1
Mets 9, Giants 7 (11)

It's been so long since I last wrote something here that the Mets have already begun to pull themselves out of the little slump they were in. West coast baseball and a Sunday night Strokes concert are to blame. I regret nothing.

It has been a rough week for Mets pitching thus far. Steve Trachsel had a very good game on Tuesday, allowing just one run on three hits and two walks in six innings, striking out two. But everyone else has had their troubles. Which is to say, Pedro hasn't pitched yet this week.

Victor Zambrano kept up his newfound level of awfulness on Sunday, lasting just four innings. He gave up five runs on seven hits and three walks while his electric stuff was good for just one strikeout. Now sporting a 9.64 ERA, I don't think this will be the year that the 30 year-old realizes all that potential he's been hoarding. If only the Mets had someone in their organization who could replace him.

Tom Glavine had his worst outing of the season on Monday and the same could be said of Brian Bannister today. Glavine walked five batters and allow six hits while striking out four, leading to six runs in six and one-third innings, which was too much for the inconsistent New York offense to overcome. Bannister continued to flirt with disaster but things didn't quite fall apart. He only lasted five innings due to a strained hamstring and allowed three runs. Given the seven hits and two walks he gave up, things could've been worse.

The Met offense continued to struggle through the first three games of the week, only picking up one win due to Trachsel's good start. But they had a big game today with contributions from all spots in the lineup. Jose Reyes had two hits, two walks and two stolen bases. Endy Chavez and Ramon Castro each had three hits, including a double. Carlos Delgado hit his ninth home run and a double, drew two intentional walks and was hit by a pitch. And Bannister himself had two doubles.

Aaron Heilman relieved Bannister allowed one run in two innings, tying the game at four. But the Mets took the lead with three in the top of the eighth and Duaner Sanchez pitched a scoreless inning with one hit and one strikeout. All that was left was for Billy Wagner to close it out.

Through three batters face, Wagner had struck out two and allowed one single. And then he got Moises Alou to ground out to third base. Except David Wright threw the ball away, allowing Barry Bonds to come to the plate as the potential tying run. Wright's return to earth continued in this game, as he had just one hit in six at bats, albeit a key RBI double. He had been four for twelve with a double in the previous three games. His defense continues to be disappointing, as his errors very often seem to come on relatively simple plays.

But even after Bonds homered to send the game into extra innings, the Mets were able to keep fighting. The squandered a Reyes walk that led off the tenth when Wright couldn't even get him home from third with one out. But Castro's mighty bat started things with a single in the eleventh and Chris Woodward doubled him home. Reyes then drove Woodward home to give the Mets some insurance before Wright could end the inning. Castro is now hitting .400/.412/.733 through fifteen at bats. Meanwhile, Paul Lo Duca is hitting .281/.352/.344. All I'm doing is posting the stats without comment.

Now the Mets (14-7) get a day off before beginning a big series in Atlanta against the Braves (9-12, haha, that's right, 9-12, and they're in second place!). In game one it will be Pedro Martinez (4-0, 3.04) against John Smoltz (1-1, 4.15). The last time those two hooked up, it was September 15th, the Mets had no chance of catching the Braves and Pedro pitched a complete game shutout. His first start against Atlanta this year wasn't quite that good, but it should be fun seeing if he can keep up his perfect record.  ¶ joe | 10:48 PM |