Mets 7, Reds 4 (35-34, 2.5 GB)

Tuesday, June 22, 2004

Matt Ginter has been mostly unlucky this season. He's had 8 starts, and only two decisions. (He's 1-1.) His one loss came in a game he could have won - his start last week against Cleveland. He's had five other no decisions where he gave up a total of four earned runs. Those could have also been wins.

But when Matt Ginter gets lucky, he gets lucky. He got his first win this year against the Rockies, in a game he should have lost (5 ER in 5 IP). And last night was a no decision he should be very happy with, after giving up 4 ER in 4 IP. John Franco, Mike Stanton, and Braden Looper combined for five scoreless innings of relief as the Mets bailed out Ginter in a great win. (They're all great, aren't they?)

Ginter helped the team out a bit, though. He kept the game from getting way out of hand, working out of jams, and giving up only the four runs that he did. That allowed the Mets to come back. And it's nice that the Mets picked up Ginter for a change, if not getting him a win this time around, at least keeping him from getting tagged with a loss.

Could the offense finally be coming around? It seems like everything's starting to click. Mike Piazza is hitting homers, Cliff Floyd is showing his power, Mike Cameron is no longer stuck in a slump, and new addition Richard Hidalgo even contributed last night. Here's the biggest thing - Kaz Matsui is in a slump right now, and THE GREATEST BASEBALL PLAYER WHO EVER LIVED Jose Reyes has yet to do what he's capable of. So you have to believe this will keep up when those two start setting the table.

The Braves blew a chance for the Mets to move to within a game and a half of first. Atlanta led the Marlins last night 3-1 into the seventh inning, but proceeded to give the game away with a bases loaded walk, and a wild pitch with a runner on third. So the Mets picked up a game on the Phillies, who lost to Montreal, but remain two and a half behind the Marlins.

This is as far as the Mets have been over .500 since the beginning of the month. After they beat Florida to go to 27-26 on June 3, they lost seven of eight. (They've turned around and won seven of eight since.) The Mets just need to keep winning now, and put .500 in the rear view mirror. The farther above .500 they get, the closer to first place they'll get. Tonight it's Jae Seo against Todd Van Poppel. If Seo can keep the ball in the park against the Reds, the Mets should win this game.

WRIGHT WATCH: Last night the Norfolk Tides lost again (Bob Keppel got knocked around this time - the Mets minor league pitchers aren't looking so good), but David Wright continues to shine. Wright went 2-5, with a double, raising his Triple-A average to .353.