Easley powers Mets to win

Mets Manager Jerry Manuel had 500 wins as a manager coming into last night's game against the Angels. Number 501 was probably just as sweet as numbers 1 and 500 were. It was sweet because it was his first win as Mets Manager.

The Mets got off to a fast start last night as they took a 1-0 lead in the top of the 1st, after Jose Reyes scored on a David Wright ground out to second. Reyes led off the game with an infield single to second, stole second, and moved to third on a throwing error by Angels Catcher Jeff Mathis.

Reyes scored again to give the Mets a 2-0 lead in the top of the 3rd, after First Baseman Marlon Anderson hit a sacrifice fly to left. Reyes led off the top of the third with a triple to deep center. DH Carlos Delgado then gave the Mets a 3-0 lead after he hit his 10th homer of the season to center in the top of the 4th.

The Angels cut the deficit to 3-1 after Catcher Jeff Mathis hit a single to left that scored Center Fielder Torii Hunter, who singled to center earlier in the bottom of the 4th inning. Third Baseman Chone Figgins then led off the bottom of the 5th with a single to left. Left Fielder Reggie Willets then walked. Second Baseman Howie Kendrick then reached on an infield single to third to load the bases for DH Vladimir Guerrero.

Guerrero proceeded to tie the game at 3 after singling to center bringing home Figgins and Willets, and moving Kendrick over to third. Kendrick scored give the Angels a 4-3 lead on the very next play, which was a Torii Hunter single to center.

The Angels appeared to be on their way to a 4-3 win after bringing in Closer Francisco Rodriguez to shut the door in the top of the 9th inning. Mets Catcher Ramon Castro led off the 9th, and popped out to Catcher Jeff Mathis. Jose Reyes then singled to left, and moved to second on a wild pitch. After Pinch Hitter Fernando Tatis struck out swinging, up came David Wright.

Coming into the game, Wright was 1-for-20 in the ninth inning. Now he is 2-for-21, as he singled to left to score Reyes to tie the score at 4, and subsequently snapping Francisco Rodriguez's streak of 25 straight save conversions.

After the Angels were unable to score in their half the bottom of the 9th, the game was on to extras. With 2 outs already in the inning, Second Baseman Damion Easley stepped out, and promptly gave the Mets a 5-4 lead in the top of the 10th, after hitting his 2nd homer of the year.

Mets Closer Billy Wagner then got the Angels 1,2, 3, in the bottom of the 10th, to earn his 16th save of the season, and send the Mets on the plane to Colorado happily after taking two out of three from the AL West leading Angels.