Here We Go Again

The 10 game win streak during which the Mets took sole possession of first place seems like it never occurred. Since the All-Star Break during which the Mets rode in on with the 10 game streak, the team has gone 6-9, and has fell to third place in the division 2.5 games behind Philadelphia. They have a chance of falling 3 behind pending the outcome of the Phillies game against the Cardinals tonight.

Today, the Mets lost for the fourth time in a row, and got swept by the Astros for the first time in a four game series since September of 1993. It was the first time that the Astros won a series from the Mets since July of 2005. The Mets now head home to face the Padres Tuesday night at Shea after completing a 1-5 road trip to Florida and Houston.

The starters have been solid for the most part during this tough stretch with the exception of Pelfrey's game against Florida, and Perez's game today against Houston. It's the bullpen that is the area of major concern right now for this team.

After more than a half of a season with bullpen struggles the Mets couldn't pull a deal at Thursday's trade deadline for a reliever. Now, I bet they're wishing they could have worked out a deal. During the second game against Florida, the Mets came into the 8th with a 3-2 lead against Florida, and lost 7-3 after giving up 5 runs in the bottom of the eighth. At the time, it was the third time that it happened in a week.

During the first game against Houston, Pinch-hitter Mark Loretta hit a tie breaking grand slam off of Aaron Heilman in the eighth. The Mets lost the game 7-3 after failing to score a run after having the bases loaded in the top of the 7th.

On Saturday night, after jumping out of a 4-0 lead against Roy Oswalt, the bullpen let the lead go, and the Mets lost 5-4 in ten innings. It all started when New York was leading 4-2 in the 9th, and Houston loaded the bases with one out against Billy Wagner, who had converted 13 of his previous 14 save chances. Pinch-hitter Geoff Blum lined a single to left, and Right Fielder Hunter Pence raced around third, right on Third Baseman Mark Loretta's heels. First Baseman Lance Berkman then scored when Center Fielder Darin Erstad lined out to left in the 10th inning to send the Houston fans home happy. Aaron Heilman gave up a walk to Berkman to put him on and a single to Left Fielder Carlos Lee to start the 10th.

Today, Astros Third Baseman Ty Wigginton homered off of Oliver Perez, and Right Fielder Hunter Pence and Catcher Humberto Quintero added RBI doubles. Center Fielder Darin Erstad also joined the run scoring party with a run scoring single. The Mets lost the game 4-0 after loading the bases with one out in the fourth and fifth, and coming away with nothing.

Today's shutout was the fourth time the Mets have been shut out this season, and the dismal offensive performance was only part of the bad news. Closer Billy Wagner was unavailable with a strained left forearm, and was due to have an MRI exam in New York on Tuesday. The Mets also placed right-hander John Maine on the disabled list to further rest his sore right shoulder.

To take Maine's spot on the roster, the Mets called up Eddie Kuntz, who was leading the Eastern League in saves with 27 at the time of his call up. Kuntz made his debut in the loss today, and was greeted in the seventh by a lead off bunt by Darin Erstad. Then, Humberto Quintero laid down a sacrifice bunt and Kunz fielded it, but his throw to first sailed over Carlos Delgado's head, the Mets' first error in 12 games. Delgado recovered in time to throw out Erstad at third, and Kuntz escaped without giving up a run.

San Diego comes into Shea on Tuesday as I said earlier. The last time the Mets faced the Padres this year; they got swept in San Diego during a four game series. The series in NY is only three games, but if the bullpen continues to pitch like they've been pitching, and if Wagner's injury is serious, the Mets could get swept by the Pads again.