Let's call it a winning streak!

The Mets topped the Cubs last night 4-0 to win their second straight, likely their longest winning streak of the year. The win assures the Mets at least a split of their 4 game series, meaning they officially cannot lose a series for the first time this season. Jose Reyes was the hitting star, collecting four hits including a two out, two RBI triple that provided all the runs Mike Pelfrey would need. Big Pelf went seven strong innings, running his shutout streak to 19 consecutive scoreless frames. Rookie Japanese pitcher Ryota Igarashi proved to be a true Met in the 8th inning by slipping while attempting to field a bunt and straining his hamstring. On most teams you'd expect him to be back on the mound in a few days. Since it's the Mets, I assume he'll have the leg amputated some time this summer. The highlight of the game for me came in the bottom of the 8th inning when Fernando Tatis' two out, pinch hit home run gave the Mets a 4-0 lead and denied Frankie Rodriguez a save opportunity. Despite the team actually winning 6 games this season, K-Rod has only pitched in one save situation which he promptly blew.

That's a funny looking double play

With one out in the bottom of the eighth, Jerry Manuel pinch-hit struggling Fernando Tatis for some guy named Corey Sullivan who is apparently a major league baseball player. Interesting. Anyway, the bases were loaded and there was one out in the inning. Tatis has been something of a double play machine this season, managing to hit into the twin killing an astonishing 25% of the time he has the opportunity. In this clutch situation last night, just like everyone predicted, Tatis did, well, he did this:

Billy Wagner is a motherfucker

"MOTHERFUCKER!" I screamed last night as a 2 out, 2 strike slider to Jason Werth in the bottom of the 9th inning disappeared over the left-centerfield wall. One bad pitch turned a 2-0 lead into a 2-2 extra innings affair. Fortunately for Billy, the Mets have Fernando Tatis. Huh, that sounds weird. Oh well, I'm going to roll with it. Fortunately, the Mets have Fernando Tatis who hit a home run in the top of the 12th, providing the Mets with the deciding runs in their 4-2 victory. Interestingly, just before Wagner blew the save the Mets announcers provided the interesting fact that the Mets had not won a game scoring 2 or fewer runs since last July. It was almost like Wagner heard them and thought to himself, "Yeehaw! Now that sounds like tradition and I ain't one to buck tradition. Here ya go Werthie!" For the record, I assume Billy Wagner starts every thought, sentence, and action with "Yeehaw!"

Oliver Perez pitched 7 shutout innings, Carlos Beltran drove in the first two Met runs with a solo home run and a two out RBI single, and the Mets escaped a 2 on, 1 out jam in the bottom of the 8th after a lengthy rain delay, but the unsung hero of the game was reliever Joe Smith. Smith spun 2 1/3 scoreless innings, matching his longest career outing, and even provided a moment of levity in the top of the 12th when his second career major league at bat saw him strike out on three pitches. Just a suggestion Joe, but next time you might want to try getting your feet entirely within the batter's box.

The Mets have won 2 of 3 from the first place Phillies, and conclude their series in the city of brotherly hate tonight at 7:05.

Mets come from behind!

For the first time all year, the Mets won a game when trailing after 8 innings. The unlikeliest of heroes, Endy Chavez hit his first home run since tearing his hamstring early LAST season to tie the game leading off the bottom of the 9th. Then after falling behind in the top of the 12th, David Wright led off the bottom of the frame with a walk. Carlos Beltran followed with a single to move Wright to third, then after Damion Easley struck out Fernando Tatis ended the game with a two run double. It was the first career game-winning hit for Tatis who sat out the entire 2004 and 2005 seasons contemplating retirement.

Jose Reyes went 2 for 5 with a walk to extend his hitting streak to 13 games, reaching base for the 28th straight game. Carlos Beltran went 2 for 6, reaching base for the 31st straight game. Both players are instrumental to the Mets offensive success so it's nice to see them settling into the season.

The most encouraging sign from last night's game, lost a little bit in the excitement of the Mets actually coming from behind to win a game was Aaron Heilman's 2 innings of hitless relief. As recently as last season, Heilman was an integral part of the bullpen, slamming the door shut in the 8th inning to set up Billy Wagner in the 9th. This season he seems to be giving up a home run every game and has been key in the Mets inability to come from behind. It is just disheartening to watch a 1 run deficit balloon to 3 or more because your supposedly steady middle-relievers take such pleasure in watching a small white ball disappear into the night sky far beyond the outfield fence.

METS WIN!!!

With a dearth of genuine victories thus far, it seems prudent to really highlight the honest to goodness winning ballgames. No, seriously. The Mets scored more than the other team over the course of the appropriate 9 inning span. Billy Wagner got to throw blazing fastballs to opposing hitters in a save situation instead of bitter one-liners to bored beat reporters.

Johan Santana, signed in the offseason in part to prevent long losing streaks pitched 7 effective innings for the Mets. Santana to (Duaner) Sanchez to Wagner. I could stand to see that a few more times this season. Embattled (?) shortstop Jose Reyes extended his hitting streak to 9 straight games, much to the disappointment of Mets fans everywhere expecting him to hit in at least 11 or 12 of his last 9 games. Embattled (?) centerfielder Carlos Beltran reached base for the 30th consecutive start, but hit less than 4 grand slams earning derisive boos from the crowd.

Looking to the positives, subs Damion Easley, Ramon Castro, and Fernando Tatis combined for 5 hits and all 5 RBIs for the Mets. In addition, Pedro is scheduled to make his second start of the season June 3rd! All hail the savior! Pedro will make it all right, I KNOW he will. Rocks back and forth. All kidding aside, it'll be nice to have Pedro's voice in the locker, deflecting some attention away from the players who are less comfortable in front of the camera. Throwing his fastball in the mid to upper 80s and his changeup in the mid to upper 70s will help a lot too.