Mets 10, Cardinals 8

Like John Maine before him, Steve Trachsel chose the week in which Tom Glavine will not pitch to remind us all why we shouldn't feel so comfortable about him starting a playoff game. Trachsel had an eight-run lead by the end of the fourth inning and he put the game's outcome back into question in a hurry. He pitched into the sixth inning, but didn't record any outs there, instead allowing two home runs and a walk before being removed. In total, he gave up six runs on six hits and three walks with just one strikeout. He allowed a total of three home runs.

Trachsel's collapse and an uncharacteristically bad inning by Chad Bradford, in which he allowed two runs, were not enough to sink the Mets, however, as they scored ten runs in the first four innings. Jose Reyes had three hits in the game, including his fifteenth home run, as well as a walk and two stolen bases. Carlos Delgado had two doubles while David Wright and Chris Woodward had one each. Every Mets starter aside from Trachsel and Carlos Beltran had at least one hit and Beltran drew two walks and scored two runs.

The Mets will go for the sweep tomorrow night in another game in which some runs will probably be scored. Dave Williams (2-3, 6.90) will make his second start for the Mets. Jason Marquis (13-11, 5.70) goes for the Cardinals. And suiting up in the orange and blue and possibly black for the first time will be Shawn Green. The acquisition of the clearly declining Green and half of his preposterous salary is sure to increase the number of tall Jewish men on the Mets' bench come October and beyond. Omar Minaya continues to amaze.  ¶ joe | 11:45 PM |