Hey everyone! Marc here as the Mets (41-42) continue their four-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals (48-37). Pedro Martinez (2-2, 7.12 ERA) is making his sixth start since returning from injury and in his last two appearances, the 36-year-old right-hander has not been sharp. He allowed six runs on six hits and five walks in 5 2/3 innings in a 9-0 loss against the Yankees on Friday and over his last 10 innings pitched, Pedro has surrendered a whopping 12 runs.
Joel Pineiro (2-4, 4.33), who will be on the hill for the Cards, is looking for his first win since (gasp) April 29. In his lasting outing, Pineiro allowed seven runs on 10 hits in 7 2/3 innings during a 7-2 loss to Kansas City on Friday.
By the way, if you have not done so already, check out David Lennon’s article on Carlos Delgado. Good read. Will be back after the Mets bat.
Top 1st: Reyes led off the game with a single and made it all the way to third on consecutive outs by Chavez and Wright before Beltran struck out to end the inning.
Bottom 1st: Pedro got off to an awful start, allowing five hits in the inning. The big blows: an RBI single by Ankiel and a three-run homer by Glaus. Cardinals 4, Mets 0.
Top 2nd: The Mets had three base hits in the inning, but nothing to show for it. Church led off with a single, but was erased on a Delgado double play. Easley and Schneider followed with back-to-back singles before Pedro struck out.
Bottom 2nd: Pedro bounced back with a good inning. His only blemish -- hitting Schumaker with a pitch.
Top 3rd: Beltran laced an RBI single -- his 56th -- and Easley hit a two-run single three batters later. Cards 4, Mets 3.
Rain delay
Bottom 3rd: Despite not pitching during a 46-minute rain delay, Pedro came back out and retired Glaus and Ludwick. Ankiel had flied out before the delay.
Top 4th: The Mets caught a break this inning. Reyes tripled (Ludwick tried to make SportsCenter with a diving catch, but he came up with nothing) and scored following an error by Schumaker, whose throw from left sailed past the catcher (LaRue) as Reyes dashed home to tie the game at 4. Mets 4, Cards 4.
Bottom 4th: A throwing error by Reyes -- his 12th, which matched his 2007 total -- with two outs extended the inning, but unlike Santana a few weeks back, Pedro picked up his teammate and got out of the inning without allowing a run.
Top 5th: Easley connected on his third hit of the night, a double, before Schneider hit a flare to short to end the inning.
Bottom 5th: Pedro was cruising to a 1-2-3 inning before Ankiel hit his second homer in as many nights. Cards 5, Mets 4.
Top 6th: The Mets go down in order. Kyle McClellan replaced Pineiro, who gave up four runs on 11 hits. Also, Anderson hit for Pedro, who allowed five runs on seven hits while striking out four and walking one.
Bottom 6th: Joe Smith came on for Pedro and allowed just a two-out triple to Schumaker.
Top 7th: Mets take the lead after sending eight men to plate! With runners on second and third, Delgado hit an RBI single, Easley followed with a sacrifice fly and Tatis hit a bloop run-scoring single off Russ Springer. Mets 7, Cards 5.
Bottom 7th: Heilman comes on and sets the heart of the Cardinals’ order -- Pujols, Ankiel and Glaus -- in order.
Top 8th: Wright hit a one-out triple, missing a homer by a foot or so, but Beltran struck out looking and Church grounded out.
Bottom 8th: The Cards tie the game. Heilman hit Ludwick to start the inning before Feliciano came on and gave up a two-run homer to pinch hitter Chris Duncan on the first pitch he threw. Mets 7, Cards 7.
Top 9th: The Mets go down in order. Cards will try to win it in the ninth.
Bottom 9th: Walk-off homer by Glaus. Final: Cards 8, Mets 7.