On the Mets beat

Billy Wagner done for the season?

Ouch. Either way, the first-place Mets will take on the Braves tonight. It's Darren here with you to help you vent and talk about how this might affect the team. Oliver Perez, arguably one of the hottest pitchers in the National League, takes the mound tonight for the Mets.

Top 1st -- Two walks from Perez? No problem. He got of the inning easily and the slider looks great. In the live chat, the first poll question of the evening has to do with the loss of Wagner, and what options Minaya, Manuel and the Mets have in the bullpen if Wagner is really done. If the offense can get to the left hander Jo-Jo Reyes early, they should have no problem.

Bottom 1st -- David Wright drove in Jose Reyes on a sacrifice fly to right. Fernando Tatis drove in another with his ground-rule double, scoring Nick Evans. Oh, early offense. Gotta love it. Mets 2, Braves 0

Top 2nd -- Perez gets out of an inning in which he gave up a long triple to Martin Prado. He struck out Jeff Franceour and Casey Kotchman before the triple. The inning ended on a ground ball by Jo-Jo.

Bottom 2nd -- Nick Evans left two runners stranded -- hit into a double play to end the inning. Jose Reyes walked again.

Top 3rd -- The Braves took a 3-2 lead on a sacrifice fly by Jeff Franceour that scored Chipper Jones. A couple of unlucky infield hits gave the Braves their first two runs. All of a sudden Nick Evans hitting into that double play with one out and runners on second and third looms somewhat larger. Braves 3, Mets 2

Bottom 3rd -- Of course, with a little boost, Jo-Jo retired the middle of the Mets line up in order. This is beginning to remind us all of the Pittsburgh game in which the Mets didn't get enough runs.

Top 4th -- Jose Reyes and Nick Evans flash some nice leather to get Oliver Perez out of a tough inning. Reyes turned a double play with a strong throw to first; Evans made a nice diving catch in left. As Perez creeps toward the 80-pitch mark, he'll need an easy couple of innings to get back on track.

Bottom 4th -- Another 1-2-3 inning for Jo-Jo. If he keeps this up, we might actually give him a last name.

Top 5th -- Perez right back with a 1-2-3 inning of his own. Just the type of inning he needed. I think he may just intentionally walk Chipper next at-bat, though. At least I would.

Bottom 5th -- Nicky Evans finally got a hit off of Jo-Jo, but that was it. Jo-Jo is rolling and he's about to get his last name back.

Top 6th -- A walk to Kotchman didn't matter. Perez seems to be settling down; he retired Franceour, Prado, and Jo-Jo. Perez will likely pitch the seventh, which, of course, is when it gets interesting for the Mets and their fans.

Bottom 6th -- Each pitcher in this game has one inning where they let it get away from them a bit. For Jo-Jo Reyes it was the first. For Oliver Perez it was the third. Since then, both guys have posted nothing but zeroes. Appears this one might be headed for the battle between each bullpen. Imagine that.

Top 7th --Oliver Perez fit 114 pitches into that start? Luis Ayala comes in and puts Omar Infante on the ground with a knock-down pitch. He went on to strike him out. Ayala then got Brian McCann to fly out to left. Nice job for L.A.

Bottom 7th -- Jeff Bennett took over for Jo-Jo Reyes, who earned his last name back by pitching five scoreless innings. He retired Daniel Murphy, pinch hitting in the 9th spot, to end the inning. Mets still down one run. Heilman time!

Top 8th -- So here's how it went: Franceour grounded out, Kotchman singled. Prado flied out and then Heilman walked the pitcher, Jeff Bennett, but got Gregor Blanco to fly out in foul territory to David Wright. It was an adventure, but Heartattack Heilman didn't give up a run.

Bottom 8th -- With a runner on first and one out, Wright walked to move the tying run to second. Beltran reached on a little dribble that was almost successfully fielded by Chipper Jones. Then the Mets cashed in, with thanks to Richie Hess of Manhasset, two chips with a clutch two-run double by Carlos Delgado. When it was done, the Mets score four runs in the inning; 11 batters came to the plate. Mets 7, Braves 3

Top 9th -- Scott Schoeneweis came on in the ninth and retired the side. Game over, and a very nice win for the Mets, huge clutch hit by Delgado. FINAL Mets 7, Braves 3