postGame: Mets 7 Marlins 3
The Mets (57–49) lost to the Marlins (56–50) by the score of 7 to 3 tonight in a football stadium.
For a recap, boxscore, stats, and other numbers from tonight’s game, go to SNY.tv.
John Maine looked solid, though very unhappy through much of the night. In the fifth, Jerry Manuel and Mike Herbst trotted out to the mound, but left Maine in the game, who, on the next pitch, grooved a fastball that was clobbered for a home run.
Maine was removed from the game with tightness in his shoulder just one pitch later.
I can’t help but wonder how this game would have progressed, had Maine not needed to come out.
The Mets had a one-run lead to start the bottom of the eighth inning, thanks mostly to a heads-up base running play from David Wright and an ‘error’ from Dan Uggla. However, back-to-back hits from Joe Smith let the game become tied, after which the Marlins took the lead on two singles and a bunt, while adding on with a pass ball and a double all on Scott Schoeneweis’s watch.
The Mets left seven runners on base, which, to me, feels mostly why they lost this game, because, when they had opportunities to put some distance in the score early in the game, they didn’t.
I hate watching the Marlins in Miami. They are one of the sloppiest teams I have ever seen, playing in a bizarre building that is too big, and yet they win, and it’s maddening. It all makes me very edgy. What’s worse, I always feel like their sloppy, scrambled style of play ends up rubbing off on the Mets. Is this the case with other teams? I swear, Miami is the place where good baseball goes to die.
It’s going to be a crazy pennant race, folks. Get ready.
The Mets continue their three-game series with the Marlins tomorrow in Miami, starting at 7:10 pm, with Oliver Perez (6-6, 4.15 ERA) taking on Scott Olsen (6-5, 4.07 ERA).
