K-Rod is Human as the Mets Refuse to Make Up Ground on the Phillies

We all new this day would come…
Frankie Rodriguez has fallen back down to earth.
Just what the doctor ordered.

After a well played game, where the Mets had a combination of good defense and timely hitting, it was the bullpen who let the team down for the second consecutive night, allowing the Orioles to score runs in the eight and ninth innings to tie the game and eventually pick up the walk off win.  It was a loss that seemed to sting a little less than the rest of the losses this week.  I must be getting numb.  The one thing that makes it hurt a little more, is that the Mets could have made up some ground on the Phillies, with the Blue Jays finishing the sweep earlier in the day.

The Mets offense strung together nine hits, plating four runs, although they left nine runners on base and were only 3-11 with runners in scoring position.  David Wright went hitless again, strengthening my belief that he’s going back into one of his slumps where he can’t hit the broad side of a barn.

Livan Hernandez pitched well enough to get a win, and was able to provide some comedy in his last inning, when he experienced what seemed to be cramps in his side with two out in the seventh inning.  The training staff came out, but Livan was all smiles, and was able to stay in the game.  Livan went seven innings giving up two runs on eight hits.  Hernandez seems to give up a lot of hits in all his starts, but is a master at minimizing the damage.  Pedro Feliciano was somewhat ineffective for the second straight night giving up a hit that turned into a charged run later in the inning.  Sean Green was good again, giving up a hit in his two thirds of the eighth inning.  The Mets did everything they were supposed to do tonight, keeping the lead going into the bottom of the ninth and handing the ball to the best closer in the game.  Unfortunately, Frankie did not have great stuff tonight, struggling with his control throughout the inning.  He walked two, including the tying run and was only able to record one out before Aubrey Huff struck again to drive in the winning run on a single.

The Mets get to come back home tomorrow as they start a series against the Devil Rays.  This begins a stretch where the Mets will play teams with records above .500 until the All Star Break.  We’re all going to learn a little something about this team in the coming weeks.  Let’s hope it’s not too disappointing.