With a one-run lead in the ninth inning, Francisco Rodriguez came into the game and had trouble locating his fast ball. The result was his first true blown save of the season, not counting the game the Mets lost to the Yankees when Luis Castillo dropped a routine fly ball.
Rodriguez allowed a lead-off double. He then walked the next batter. The third batter at the plate bunted, but Omir Santos’s throw to third was a tad too late, loading the bases. He then walked Adam Jones to tie the game at 4. Finally, Aubrey Huff hit the ball into right field for the walk-off win.
The Mets had a chance to tack on runs in the ninth when Castillo started off with a hit. Alex Cora then bunted him over. Daniel Murphy hit a fly ball to advance Castillo to third, but after an intentional walk to Carlos Beltran, David Wright could not bring the runner home.
It was another good outing by Livan Hernandez, who allowed only two runs and pitched seven innings. Pedro Feliciano allowed a double to Huff with one out and was removed for Sean Green. Green allowed a single and then got a ground ball, but it scored another run. He closed out the inning to head into the ninth.
Beltran and Cora both had good nights at the plate, each getting two hits. Beltran got an RBI. Wright didn’t get a hit for the second straight night but did get an RBI. The Mets scored all of their runs on small ball.
It was an especially disappointing loss considering the Phillies had lost earlier in the day to the Blue Jays and the Mets could’ve pulled within two games. Now, the Mets face a tough home stand starting with the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, followed by the Cardinals four and then the Yankees. Fernando Nieve will make his third start.