NO NO-NO: NOOOOOOO!!

Dodgers 2, Mets 1 (LA: 53-64; NYM: 59-58)

Newsflash: The Mets have still never thrown a no-hitter in their 43-year-history. Pedro Martinez* still hasn't thrown a no-hitter in his career. It's a little bit funny (and seriously, it's only a little bit funny....a very, very little bit) that Pedro* is now with the Mets. He's like a microcosm of the team's history. Great pitcher, never threw a no-hitter. The Mets have had some great pitchers in their history, and have never had a no-hitter.

The worst part of the no no-no by Pedro* is that he lost the game. First of all, Gerald Williams could have caught the ball that went off the wall. It's actually a miracle that Pedro* went seven and a third no-hit innings with Gerald Williams in center (for Carlos Beltran*), Victor Diaz in right (for Mike Cameron), and Marlon Anderson at first (for Doug Mientkiewicz). Diaz isn't great shakes on defense, Williams cost Pedro* the no-no, and Anderson still doesn't know which foot to put on the bag to get the best possible stretch for throws. It's like watching someone play first base backwards when he's out there.

So Pedro* gives up the one-out triple to Antonio Perez which should have been a long fly ball out, and then a 2-run homer to Jayson Werth. And the shutout is gone, the 1-0 lead is now a 2-1 Dodgers lead.

The Mets mount a mini-threat in the top of the ninth. David Wright struck out, then Anderson doubled. He stole third with Victor Diaz up, then on 3-2, Diaz hit a check swing grounder to second base. Anderson was off on contact, but I didn't see the play, because a huge blast of thunder and lightning knocked out my satellite picture. I swear if this happens during football season I am going to be so disappointed in DirecTV, and might pull the naming rights to my house. But Anderson was out, I saw later on ESPNEWS, and Kaz Matsui then struck out to end the game.

A very disappointing end to a disappointing and costly road trip. A win would actually have salvaged the trip at 3-3, but 2-4 is much worse. I don't know that Carlos Beltran* will be back when the Mets open up their 6-game homestand on Tuesday - I suspect we'll find out on Monday about that.

The Mets also missed a chance to capitalize on a loss by the Astros, and fell to 8-and-a-half behind the Braves. The season may just have come to an end on the West Coast....although the wild card deficit is just three games...and the Nationals are coming to town at the end of the week.

Interesting note: I switched quickly to the Red Sox rain delay after the eighth inning (and the no-hit bid was lost) and Eric Frede said someone on the staff pointed out the history between Gerald Williams and Pedro Martinez* as a possible reason why Williams didn't lay out for the fly ball to prevent the no-hitter. The history is that Pedro* and Williams had run-ins when Williams was on the Devil Rays and Pedro* was with the Sox, and Pedro* on occasion pitched Williams very far inside. One instance, I think, featured Pedro* hitting Williams to lead off the game, and then retiring something like 20 D-Rays in a row, losing a no-hit bid late in the game. Something like that. But the comment was made jokingly - and I just think it's funny that these two are playing on the same team now. And I hope they've made up.

WRIGHT WATCH: A 2-for-4 day for Wright lifted the average to .305, but no doubles.

SECOND HALF: 10 SEASON TOTAL: 32 TEAM RECORD: 44

THE KID'S KIDS: No games on Sunday in the Gulf Coast League. The Mets beat the Dodgers on Saturday, so the record is at 30-14. I will call down there this week and see about the post-season.