Mets (58-52) vs Astros (52-57)
Oliver Perez (7-6, 4.02) vs. Randy Wolf (6-10, 4.79)
The Mets are coming off as bad a loss as you can have in August. They watched Billy Wagner blow a two-run lead in the ninth before ultimately losing in 10 innings. Two games behind the Phillies, the Mets send Oliver Perez to the mound today to try to salvage the last game of this three game set.
Perez is taking John Maine's turn in the rotation. Perez, thanks to an off-day on Thursday, will pitch on regular rest. Over his six most recent outings, Perez has posted a 1.36 ERA with 44 strikeouts and 15 walks.
Wolf made his Astros debut in Milwaukee on July 27, allowing four runs (three earned) over 4 1/3 innings. Wolf faced the Mets once this year while with the Padres, allowing one run over seven inning in a winning effort. Wolf has good career numbers against the Mets -- 10 wins, 5 losses and a 3.35 ERA over 26 starts.
The Mets have also brought up reliever Eddie Kunz.
Joseph Staszewski will again take you through this afternoon's action.
ASTROS 4, METS 0
Top of the Ninth: Jose Valverde comes in and gives up just a walk to the pitch hitter Evans
Bottom of the Eight: Scott Schoeneweis come on to give up a single to Tejada, but get the first to outs. Carlos Muniz is brought in to get the final out.
Top of the Eight: Mets again fail to score with runner on first and second and no outs.
Bottom of the Seventh: Eddie Kunz makes his debut. Gives up a bunt single to Erstad. Air mails a throw to first on a Quintero bunt, but Erstad is thrown out at third. He then gets a double play ball to end the inning.
Top of the Seventh: Mets get just a one-out single from Reyes.
Bottom of the Sixth: Evans throws out Lee trying to go to second for his second outfield assist of the game to help the Astros go in order.
Top of the Sixth: Mets go down in order.
Bottom of the Fifth: Astros go 1-2-3
Top of the Fifth: Mets fail to score after putting runners on first and second with one out and getting the bases loaded with two outs.
Bottom of the Fourth: Wigginton double with two outs and is driven home by a Pence double. Erstad singles in front of a diving Evans in left. Quintero doubles down the left field line to score Erstad. ASTROS 4, METS 0
Top of the Fourth: Mets leave the bases loaded with one out. Back to back strike outs by Evans ans Cancel.
Bottom of the Third: Astros go in order
Top of the Third: Cancel is thrown out stealing third to end the inning with David Wright up and runners on first and second.
Bottom of the Second: Ty Wigginton homers. Evans plays the bounce off the wall in left perfect and throws out Pence trying to go for two. Astros 1, Mets 0
Top of the Second: Mets go in order.
Bottom of the First: The Astro's strand Matsui at second after he led off the inning with a single.
Top of the First: Beltran singles and is then picked off of first. Delgado strikes out to end the inning after a Wright walk.
Comments (2)
I was out all day and had to read this blog in order to get an update.
Offense has shut down and the bullpen has imploded.
Sounds like Ollie pitched "okay" today.
Who is next for the Mets...?
I WARNED YOU ALL SINCE GAME ONE !!!
This team is GUTLESS....They had a small nice run after the mgr. change, yet you cannot expect BENCH PLAYERS and OLD MEN to win a division.
OMAR should of SOLD like I said. That winning streka did one thing for us.....A false sense that we were good enough to compete.
We have NO FARM, OLD MEN, 140 MILL PAYROLL, NO CLUTCH PLAYERS, NO HEART, NO STAFF, NO BULLPEN, ETC. ETC. ETC.....
I alos told you all that Philly would get hot and run away with it !!!
All sad but true facts boys......sad but true!