The Mets completed their 3-game sweep of the San Diego Padres Thursday afternoon at Shea Stadium. Surprisingly, it was the first 3-game sweep at Shea for the Mets all season.The Mets rested Carlos Beltran, Paul LoDuca and Lastings Milledge (hitting .213), but it didn't matter. Orlando Hernandez gave up 3 runs over 7 innings (just four hits), winning his fourth straight decision to even his record at 8-8.
After the Padres took a 2-0 lead, the Mets came back to get three, the highlight being Jose Reyes' 2-run triple. The Padres tied it at 3 in the 7th, but the Mets answered in the bottom half, scoring 4 times, including RBI hits by David Wright and Jose Valentin. Wright had 2 doubles, increasing his season total to 29 (he had one the other night - I might have to start up a doubles watch again, between Wright's 29, Beltran's 29, and Paul Lo Duca's 28).
That's the way the Mets have been playing during their current 5-game winning streak - any time the other team has shown hints of life, the Mets have really stomped on them and shut them down.
The Mets really have a chance at a lengthy winning streak here - they go to Washington for the weekend to take on the Nationals. Tom Glavine takes on Billy Traber (I believe he's a former Mets farmhand) in the opener on Friday (The Wife's Birthday - not sure I'll be posting), and the story with the Nationals is that if you get out Alfonso Soriano, you'll be OK. I like the Mets' chances. Let's also keep an eye out for any bad blood from earlier in the year - but with Jose Guillen on the DL, and Pedro Martinez* not pitching in this series, and explosive and angry Cliff Floyd on the DL, I have a feeling it will be a calm series, this time around.
MAGIC NUMBER: The Mets knocked one more number off here, but the Phillies were idle on Thursday, so there was no more opportunity for movement, unfortunately. So at 36 it stays, until the weekend. Interestingly, the Mets now have their biggest division lead all season - improving to 14 games over Philadelphia.
OOPS: I thought Ricky Ledee was replacing Cliff Floyd on the roster, with Floyd being placed on the 15-day DL. I was mistaken. When Floyd was placed on the DL, the Mets called up Michael Tucker from Norfolk (he played Thursday, and was 1-for-4 with an RBI). When the Mets got Ledee (1-for-4 on Thursday), they sent Eli Marrero down to Norfolk. Guess Marrero just wasn't cutting it. So much for his ability to play a bunch of positions - the Mets didn't want him at any. (Backup catcher Ramon Castro had been placed on the DL last weekend. The Mets called up Mike DeFelice rather than use Marrero at catcher, his first position.) Guess that all just shows how little value Kaz Matsui has around the Majors (as though we didn't already know).
THE KID'S KIDS: A 6-2 win for St. Lucie, but Daytona won as well, so the Mets still trail the Cubs by a game.
ALFONZO'S COMEBACK: Edgardo Alfonzo was again 1-for-4, still at .239. The Norfolk Tides lost again - of note - the starting pitcher was Brian Bannister, who went 4-and-a-third innings, giving up 3 ER, 7 hits, a walk, and striking out 5. His AAA ERA is 9.64.
BEAT THE STREAK: Miguel Cabrera stayed hot, so my hitting streak reaches two. Hope I can get to three with Mike Piazza against Andy Pettitte.
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