Nine Is Fine

It all started when the Mets took three out of four from NL East leading Philadelphia on July 4th weekend. The Mets lost the first game 3-2, but then won the next three in the series. After leaving Philly, the Mets headed back home for a 6 game home stand against the Giants and Rockies before the All-Star break. The Mets swept the Giants to extend their winning streak to six by scores of 7-0, 5-0, and 7-3.

When the Rockies came to Shea, the Mets dominance as of late continued. The first game of the series saw the Mets win 2-1, while holding the Rockies offense to three hits. The lone Rockies run came on a home run to right field by Right Fielder Brad Hawpe in the 5th inning.

The middle game of the series on the FOX Saturday Game of the Week in the NY area saw the Mets win again. This time by a score of 3-0, holding the Rockies offense to one hit. The only Rockies hit came from Brad Hawpe, who singled to right in the top of the fourth inning. Pedro Martinez, who left after four due to tightness in his right shoulder, and four relievers combined on a one hitter with Carlos Muniz picking up his first Major League win. Don't worry Mets fans. Jerry Manuel says that Pedro will be able to make his next start after the All-Star break.

In last night's series finale on the ESPN Sunday Night Baseball Game of the week, Mike Pelfrey pitched a gem in eight innings. He shut out the Rockies through 8 on six hits, didn't walk anybody, and struck out 5 to improve his record to 8-6 after the Mets completed their second sweep in a row, and got their ninth win overall heading into the All-Star break by a score of 7-0.

Center Fielder Carlos Beltran got the scoring going early for the Mets after hit a 3 run homer to make the score 3-0 in the first inning. Jose Reyes then singled in the bottom of the 3rd to bring home Catcher Ramon Castro who singled to center. The homer made the score 4-0 Mets. In the bottom of the 4th, Left Fielder Nick Evens hit a sacrifice fly to center, that brought home Right Fielder Fernando Tatis, who singled to center to lead off the inning, and moved to third on a Ramon Castro single to right.

Then, in the bottom of the 5th, First Baseman Carlos Delgado hit a moon shot off of the score board in right field. The homer made the score its final of 7-0 when it also brought home Second Baseman Damion Easley who reached safely on a fielder's choice ground out earlier in the inning.

The Mets are on fire, and are beating the teams that they should. Most players look forward to the break to visit family, and to let injuries heal. However, I think that this break might kill the momentum, and the team may fall back into its lapse of inconsistency when they come back to face the Reds on Thursday in Cincinnati after the break. I hope I'm wrong about that because they are only a 1/2 game out of first, and are on their longest winning streak since April of 2000. The year 2000 was that last time that the Mets were in the World Series. Is it too early too hope that that situation plays itself out again, only with a different outcome?