Just a thought: Pagan to first?

Sure, Carlos Delgado added two RBI's tonight. Sure, Angel Pagan has never played a game at first base. Sure, it's late and this is a most likely misguided thought in a giddy, Pagan-loving, Mets fans head.

But.

What about Pagan at first?

After the spring training athletic contest amongst the player, and Pagan coming out on top in nearly every single event, we know he's a very athletic guy. He's still pretty young, and flashes a good glove in the outfield. Why not give him some reps at first, just to see what he's got?

Delgado is obviously not the player he was two years ago. Ravaged by nagging injuries, he just can't swing the same. He needs to start going with pitches and taking the the other way, but he seems unwilling to do that.

Pagan is athletic, young, and most importantly, hungry. Friday night's hustle double on a bloop to shallow right is just another notch for Pagan. When Moises Alou comes back, Pagan is the odd man out. If he wants to get as much playing time in as possible, he'll try to work as many positions as possible, right?

Put him at first a few hours before a game, and start knocking some ground balls to him. See what happens. He's 6-foot-2-inches tall, so he should have a decent reach at the bag. If we're talking moving David Wright to first, why not Pagan?

Photo of the Day: Wright

David Wright had a huge night at Citizens Bank Park, going 4-4 with a walk, driving in two runs and scoring once.
The Mets pulled into first place tonight with a win over the Philadelphia Phillies and a Florida Marlins loss.
(AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

Game Recap: Mets 6 -- Phillies 4

The New York Mets got stellar performances from Johan Santana and David Wright Friday night, as they led the entire game, by varying scores, and eventually beat the Philadelphia Phillies by a score of 6-4.

Santana was absolutely amazing Friday. He went seven plus, allowing only four hits and striking out 10. Santana did not issue a walk, using 105 pitches, 70 of which went for strikes. He set down two batters on strike outs in the first, second, third and fourth innings. He gave up one hit in the second, a single to Pat Burrell and did not allow another until the seventh. Chase Utley led off the seventh inning with a solo home run to center. He then allowed two straight hits to lead off the eighth inning before he was pulled. He was pegged with three earned runs, but two of them came with Aaron Heilman pitching.

I must sound like a broken record, but what more can you ask from him? 10 strike outs. Insane. This was a pitchers duel, even though I didn't think it was going to be, especially in Citizens Bank Park. Simply amazin' from Johan.

Heilman entered the game with two on in the eighth inning, and facing pinch hitter Greg Dobbs. Here's what I wrote in my live game thread: "95 mph fastball from Heilman for his first pitch to Dobbs, pinch hitting. Second pitch from Heilman is taken DEEP to right for a three run home run. 5-4 Mets. Ugh! Heilman will never, ever be a closer for that reason." As mentioned earlier, the two runners were charged to Santana, and the one run (Dobbs) was obviously charged to Heilman. He stayed in the game, getting pinch hitter Geoff Jenkins to fly out to the warning track and Jayson Werth on a ground out to Luis Castillo. Pedro Feliciano entered the game for one batter, striking out Utley to end the inning.

I don't know what is going on with Heilman. He goes a few games without giving up a run, then goes on a streak of allowing them to score in bunches, the next few games after that he shuts them out. Heilman is a roller coaster, that's the easiest way to put it. Feliciano, facing only one batter, did his job tonight. Good stuff.

Billy Wagner entered the game, looking for the save. He put down the Phillies in order, getting a comebacker from Ryan Howard, a fly out from Pat Burrell, and a ground ball from Pedro Feliz to end the game. This was Wagner's third save of the season.

Wagner is still yet to allow a hit this season. Keep on truckin' Wagner.

The Mets picked up 11 hits, with three extra base hits coming from David Wright, who finished the game a home run shy of the cycle, going 4-4.

For the second straight game, the Mets got on the board early, as they scored in the first inning. Ryan Church walked with one out and moved to second during Wright's at bat on a passed ball. Wright golfed one deep to left, hitting off the top of the wall for a double. Church scored easily.

That left field wall is unbelievably short. It's no wonder the Phillies hit so many home runs.

The Mets had a bit of a scare in the third inning, but let out a huge sigh of relief and eventually scored in the inning. With one out, Hamels walked Jose Reyes on four pitches. Church flew out, so there were two away with Wright at the plate. Reyes attempts a steal and gets in there safe. As he is sliding though, he is kneed in the head by Utley. Here, again, is what I wrote in my live game:

"Trainers are out there, and they're checking for concussions. They're dilating his pupils with a pen light. A concussion would knock him out for about two weeks. He's also holding his mouth, as he probably ate a ton of dirt on that play. Reyes does not want to come out of the game, as he's standing around second trying to work it off. Just read "Oh come on!" off the lips of Reyes. Willie Randolph and Ray Ramirez are trying to coax him out. Surprisingly, Reyes is staying in."

It paid off for the Mets, as Wright cracked a line drive to center field. Werth made a diving attempt at the ball, but couldn't come up with it as it rolled to the wall in center. Reyes trotted home easily and Wright coasted into third with a stand up triple.

This was when you knew Wright was going to have a huge night. Very scary moment for Reyes, as I was almost positive he would leave the game and hit the DL with a concussion of some level. Reyes pleaded his case and stayed in for the entire game. Whew!

The eighth inning was a big one for the Mets, as they scored three runs. The inning started with a single from Church down the right field line. Wright followed it up with another double, his second of the game. After an intentional walk to Carlos Beltran, the Phillies brought in J.C. Romero to face Carlos Delgado. Delgado was 1-13, a .077 AVG against Romero, so a good matchup for the Phils. Delgado grounded a ball to Howard, who thought about coming home, but bobbled it forcing his play. Church scored without a throw. Pagan then blooped a hustle double to left, which brought home Wright. Brian Schneider had a nice night, going 3-4, adding a single here and driving in his only run as Beltran crossed the plate for the final Mets run of the inning. The Mets added an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning, as Church scored on Delgado's bases loaded sacrifice fly.

Church and Wright seem to have something brewing at the top of the order. Please, Willie, don't mess with it. Nice inning here. Taking advantage of key opportunities, something this squad needs to do a lot more.

Numbers - Wright: 4-4, 1 BB, 2 RBI, 1 run...Church: 2-4, 1 BB, 3 runs...Delgado: 2 RBI...Pagan and Schneider: 1 RBI...Reyes: 0-4, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 SB...Santana: 3 K's...Team LOB: 9...1: Mets place in the standings...

Game ball: Santana and Wright, without a doubt.

Beardless watch: 7-2.

Live Game Thread: Mets @ Phillies -- 4/18

Mets vs. Phillies.
Santana vs. Hamels.

A great game on paper, let's see how it turns out on the field. Stick around for a blow-by-blow rundown of the game, injected with my own commentary and occasionally witty remarks.

Feel free to discuss the game in the comments.

Pre-game:

• I'm worried about Johan Santana and the long ball tonight. He wants to challenge hitters way too much, and he keeps the ball in the strike zone more than necessary. He needs to throw more junk when he's ahead in the count.

First inning:

• ...And here we go! First pitch to Jose Reyes, a fastball high, fouled back. On the third pitch, Reyes flies one to So Taguchi in right.
• Cole Hamels is dialing it up to 96 mph early on. Behind Ryan Church 3-1, before he gets him swinging on his changeup to push it full. Church walks, and the perfect game is no more.
• Here is David Wright, coming off a hitless night against the Nationals. Carlos Ruiz can't get his grip on a Hamels change, and it squirts away as Church moves to second. That just looked lazy. Wright goes deep and golfs one to the short porch in left. Off the top of the wall and bounces back into play. Church had it read the whole way and scored easily, and Wright slides into second with an RBI double.
• Carlos Beltran, playing after taking a night off due to a sore neck, smokes a ball to Eric Bruntlett at short. Wright is caught off second base and the double play ends the inning.
• 1 run, 1 hit, 1 BB, 0 K. 1-0 Mets.

• First pitch from Santana in there for a called strike one. Third pitch goes well over the head of Brian Schneider. Calmate, Santana. Taguchi thought he had a free pass to first, but he is wrung up on a called strike three. That was not a strike, but rather nice framework from Schneider.
• With Jayson Werth batting, Gary Cohen is mentioning how CBP is so quiet. I've been there, and either the fans are just very, very quiet, or the park is built to reduce noise, or something. Werth pops one out to left for the second out.
• First two pitches to Chase Utley fouled away. Woah...I don't know where that pitch missed. Low, I guess, but that's what's called now. The textbook strikezone is out the window. "On the outside corner, strike three called." Thanks Gary.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 2 K. 1-0 Mets.

Second inning:

• Well that was quick for Carlos Delgado. Good morning, good afternoon, and goodnight. Wide strike zone tonight, that's for sure.
• Angel Pagan pops one foul, behind home. Ruiz puts him away. Keith makes his usual catchers-mask-toss-away comment.
• Schneider singles up the middle as Utley...um...gets stuck on the grass? Looked like he was glued down.
• First two to number eight hitter Luis Castillo fouled away. With Castillo's absolute lack of power, he somehow manages to get one out to left field for Pat Burrell to put away.
• 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 BB, 1 K. 1-0 Mets.

• I love this matchup of Santana and Ryan Howard. Howard goes down swinging at a slider low and away. Good start, Mr. Santana. Now your real test...
• Burrell. He gets a first pitch strike from Johan. Met Killer rips a single to center, tailing away from Beltran. He runs it down in the outfield, keeping Burrell to a long single.
• Why do you hold a guy like Burrell? He's not going anywhere. Pedro Feliz pops out to Beltran in center, who thinks they already have three outs. At least he didn't toss the ball to a fan in the stands.
• Ball in the dirt with two strikes, and Ruiz attempts to check his swing. He fails, and is called out on strikes. Johan's fourth in two innings.
• 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 BB, 2 K. 1-0 Mets.

Third inning:

• Here is Santana at the plate. Think he can smoke one the other way for a home run? Guess not.
• Hamels in danger of walking Reyes on four pitches. And does. Make him pay for it, Jose.
• Church puts a charge into one, to straightaway center field, but Werth has it on the warning track for the second out. It was no Aaron Rowand tracking down a Xavier Nady line drive, that's for sure.
• With Wright batting, Reyes takes off for second. He's in there safe as the throw goes a little high, but he takes a knee to the head and is laying on top of second base as some cheers pour in from the Philly crowd. Trainers are out there, and they're checking for concussions. They're dilating his pupils with a pen light. A concussion would knock him out for about two weeks. He's also holding his mouth, as he probably ate a ton of dirt on that play. Reyes does not want to come out of the game, as he's standing around second trying to work it off. Just read "Oh come on!" off the lips of Reyes. Willie Randolph and Ray Ramirez are trying to coax him out. Surprisingly, Reyes is staying in. Wow.
• Start a new bullet here...Wright cracks the first pitch from Hamels after the delay to center. Werth attempts a dive, but the ball skips past him and back to the warning track. Hamels should have thrown some pitches to stay warm. Reyes scores easily and Wright ends up at third base with a stand up triple.
• Beltran pops out to end the inning.
• 1 run, 1 hit, 1 BB, 1 K. 2-0 Mets.

• Bruntlett pops it up to right field and Church camps out under it and puts it away.
• Pitcher v. pitcher here. These matchups are always fun. Called strike three. Johan notches up number five in the strike out tally.
• What's that? Another strike out! Taguchi goes down swinging. Six for Johan through three. Two an inning, each inning.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 2 K. 2-0 Mets.

Fourth inning:

• Delgado is a career .381 hitter in CBP. 40-105, 8 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR. Three triples? He must really love this place. Delgado makes an attempt to dump one away from Werth, but this time he tracks it down and with a sliding play makes the first out of the inning.
• Broken bat grounder for Pagan, and Feliz makes the long toss around the diamond to get the out.
• Schneider rips his second hit of the night. He pulls one to the left of Taguchi in right. One on with two away for Castillo.
• Soft ground ball to Feliz, who tosses to Howard to end the inning.
• 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 BB, 0 K. 2-0 Mets.

• 1-2 on Werth, and he bails himself out with a strange looking swing. Don't know how he made contact at all there. Dirty changeup from Santana gets Werth swinging. Strikeout number seven.
• Utley pulls one down the first base line, it takes a bad hop and skips right through the five hole of Delgado. Error charged to Delgado, thanks to the Phillies scorer. I'm going to hear it from all the people that hear me proclaim how Delgado is an underrated defensive player.
• Howard's up with one on. The game's momentum could shift to the Phillies with one big swing here. Johan gets him swinging on a slider again. Eight for Santana.
• Burrell is up, and the aforementioned quip about the game shifting in the Phillies favor still rings true. Burrell smokes one to center, but Beltran cuts across and makes the play.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 2 K. 2-0 Mets.

Fifth inning:

• Even with this two run lead and Santana pitching extremely well, it still feels like the Phillies can take this game at any time. Hopefully, this is only me and none of the Mets feel the same way. I have to shake this feeling.
• Santana leading off the inning again. Swinging for the fences. Filthy changeup that started at Santana's head and dropped to the dirt. Santana is down swinging.
• One pitch, one out for Reyes. He grounds out to Feliz.
• I still cannot believe Randolph wants to go back to Castillo in the two-hole. Church seems to fit perfectly there. Stick with him, dangit! Church goes down looking on a fastball over the outside corner.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 2 K. 2-0 Mets.

• First pitch of the inning for Santana, and Feliz hits one deep, but Beltran tracks it down on the warning track for the first out of the inning.
• Another pop up to left, and Ruiz is retired by Pagan. Gary just noted there has not been one ground ball out from Santana this game. That's nuts.
• There goes that, as Bruntlett grounds one to Wright at third. Wright makes the throw, on taget, to Delgado to end the inning. First inning without two strikeouts for Santana.
  
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 0 K. 2-0 Mets.

Sixth inning:

• Wright singled into left field over Bruntlett. Wright is now a home run away from the cycle. Double, triple, and a single.
• Beltran grounds one into the hole, but Bruntlett tracks it down, backhands, and makes a falling away throw to second to get the lead runner. Looked a bit close on that play at second, at least to me, but no one else made a peep about it. Hmm.
• Delgado bloops one down the first base line, which would have been a nice double, if it had not landed inches foul. He's in the hole 0-2. They're showing the Verizon High Speed of the game, and only have Hamels listed at 92 mph. I watched him hit 96 mph in the first inning. My guess: SNY is outsourcing their radar gun. Delgado bloops out to Utley.
• Pagan pulls a single through the hole, past Bruntlett. Nice swing there. Thanks for the replay. First and second, two away.
• Schneider makes his first out tonight, popping out to Burrell in left.
• 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 BB, 0 K. 2-0 Mets.

• Hamels and Santana matchup again. Santana's working him tight. Imagine is he gets plunked. Not good news. Don't do it Johan. Hamels goes down swinging. Nine for Santana.
• Taguchi grounds out, two away quick.
• Werth lines one into left and Pagan makes a diving, rolling grab to put it away. Excellent play. Shows his hustle and tenacity. Good stuff, Pagan.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, o BB, 1 K. 2-0 Mets.

Seventh inning:

• Castillo grounds another one softly to short, a low throw, but Howard digs it out.
• Santana pulls one down the first base line, which is snagged by Howard. Hamels wouldn't get their in time, so Howard needs to get to the bag himself and dives for the bag, just beating Santana. Johan broke out of that box with some speed. The replay had an added "woooosh!" sound effect via Ron. Thanks, that gave me a laugh.
• Reyes smokes one, right into the glove of Feliz manning the hot corner.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 0 K. 2-0 Mets.

• Utley takes a pitch from Santana deep to center field, over the fence and into the Phillies bullpen. This is a one run ballgame. 2-1 Mets. That is exactly why Santana needs to throw more junk.
• Howard grounds one along the line, which Delgado snags and takes to the base himself. One away.
• First pitch to Burrell is way in the dirt and skips past Schneider. After missing with his first two, works him inside to get the count to 2-2 and strikes him out on the next pitch, a change. Double digits for Santana.
• 2-2 pitch to Feliz, and he chops one over the head of Santana. Castillo comes charging in, snags it with his glove, grabs the handle, and makes the across the body throw to first to beat Feliz to the bag. Amazin'. Excellent play.
• 1 run, 1 hit, 0 BB, 1 K. 2-1 Mets.

Eighth inning:

• Church rips a ball into the right field corner. Church rounds first, but misses the bag, stumbles, falls, and has to hurry back to first.
• Wright doubles down the left field line, moving Church to third base. Wright is 4-4. A single, two doubles, and a triple. Some night after going 0-5 in 14 innings.
• After getting behind Beltran 2-0, the Phils will give him the intentional free pass and opt to pitch J.C. Romero against Delgado.
• Delgado has just one hit in 13 at bats against Romero, batting .077. Delgado rips the first pitch on the ground to Howard. Howard bobbles it a bit and his only play is to first while the run scores. 3-1 Mets.
• Pagan bloops one between Taguchi and Werth and both runners need to hold. The ball drops in and Wright walks on home. Beltran moves to third as Pagan hustles out a double. Good stuff. 4-1 Mets.
• Schneider puts one in the hole on the left side again, driving home Beltran. Pagan moves to third as Schneider drives in another with a single. 5-1 Mets.
• With Castillo batting, Pagan breaks for home, but Castillo doesn't square a bunt. Castillo fouls one away, saving a near disaster. Willie, a suicide squeeze? I don't think so. Castillo bounces one to third, Feliz makes the snag, attempts a tag to Pagan, which fails, and makes the long throw to Howard to get the second out. Schneider moves to second.
• Santana is still in the game, as he is getting a chance to bat in the eighth inning with two runners in scoring position. Santana goes down on strikes. His third strike out at the plate tonight.
• 3 runs, 4 hits, 1 BB, 1 K. 5-1 Mets.

• This is a strange sight. A Mets pitcher still in the game in the eighth inning. The Mets bullpen was taxed last night, so to have him eat up these innings here is amazing. Light-hitting Ruiz dunks one between Pagan and Reyes for a leadoff single. The Phillies third hit of the night.
• Bruntlett lines one right past Santana for the second straight hit. Santana made a valiant attempt on that ball, but couldn't make the stab. That will be all for Santana, I believe.
  
• J. Santana: 7+ IP, 4 hits, 1 ER, 0 BB, 10 K. Pretty freakin' good, if I say so myself.
• Aaron Heilman will enter the game for the Mets with two on and no one away.
  
• 95 mph fastball from Heilman for his first pitch to Greg Dobbs, pinch hitting. Second pitch from Heilman is taken DEEP to right for a three run home run. 5-4 Mets. Ugh! Heilman will never, ever be a closer for that reason.
• A huge cut from pinch hitter Geoff Jenkins on the second pitch. If he made contact, that ball was gone. Third pitch, Jenkins takes it to the warning track. He just missed tying this game.
• Werth squares to bunt, but Heilman makes Werth jump and dive out of the way with a ball way inside. Werth grounds one to Castillo for the second out. Heilman is done with Utley coming to bat.
• Pedro Feliciano will enter the game for the Mets. Feliciano pitched to one batter last night, walking him on four pitches.
• Feliciano gets Utley swinging on a fastball to end the inning. Good stuff from Pedro.
• 3 runs, 3 hits, 0 BB, 1 K. 5-4 Mets.

Ninth inning:

• Brad Lidge in the game for the Phillies.
• Lidge dials it up to 96 mph against Reyes. Ground ball to Utley, one away.
• Church smokes a single to left field. Great stuff from him. Willie, please don't move him.
• Wright's up with the chance for the cycle. Down 0-2 quick, but battles back to even. Now it's full. Slider outside, and the Mets have two on for Beltran. Five trips to the plate, five straight times on base for Wright.
• Beltran smokes one to Howard at first, and he gloves it and on the upswing with his arm, flings it across the infield. Bases loaded, one away for...
• Carlos Delgado. One career AB against Lidge, one career home run against Lidge. Delgado pops one to left, easily plating Church with a sac-fly. 6-4 Mets.
• Swing form Pagan at a ball in the dirt, but the ball skips at the plate and gets by Ruiz and scoots into the dugout. Both runners move up a base. Lazy fly ball to left and Burrell ends the inning.
• 1 run, 1 hit, 1 BB, 0 K. 6-4 Mets.

• Billy Wagner is in for the Mets and the save.
• Howard grounds one right back to Wagner, who makes the toss to Delgado for the first out. Howard didn't even make it halfway down the line.
• Full count to Burrell. Please don't bring the tying run to the plate. Popped up to shallow right and Castillo retreats to try and make the play. Church comes in and calls him off and makes the play.
• Feliz is up with the Phillies last chance. Quickly ahead 0-2 on Feliz and Wagner dials it up to 99 mph, but misses badly. Count is now even. Ground ball to Wright, who makes a perfect throw to Delgado to end the game.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 0 K. 6-4 Mets.
  

Mets 6 -- Phillies 4
WP: Johan Santana
LP: Cole Hamels

Thanks for tuning in. Be back in a bit with a recap.

Game Preview: Mets @ Phillies -- 4/18

The New York Mets, fresh off a sweep against the Washington Nationals, head into Philadelphia to take on the Philles for a three game set.

Lineup:
SS Jose Reyes
RF Ryan Church
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran
1B Carlos Delgado
LF Angel Pagan
C Brian Schneider
2B Luis Castillo
LH Johan Santana

Santana vs. Cole Hamels

Again, it's billed as a pitchers duel, but it's probably not going to end up like that. Remember, they're in Citizens Bank Park. Beltran is back in the lineup after missing yesterday with a stiff neck. Schneider is in there too, as he took a seat last night.

I'll be liveblogging tonight, so stay tuned.

Two notes on a pretty quiet day

There really hasn't been much discussed today as everyone just seems to be preparing for tonights matchup of Johan Santana and Cole Hamels.

On paper, it's a pitching duel, but they're in Citizens Bank Park, and when do have these ace's meet, it rarely ever works out like that.

John Delcos has tonight's over/under home run total at four. I'll take the over.

Two notes:
Carlos Beltran should return tonight after missing last night with a sore neck. He pinch hit in the ninth inning, but struck out swinging with men on base.

Also, Jimmy Rollins will not be playing tonight, as he is attending his uncle's funeral. He may or may not be back Saturday, but definitely by Sunday.

After all that, it wasn't even the longest game in the majors

Usually, when you play 14 innings, you're the longest game in the majors. Not so last night, as the San Diego Padres and the Colorado Rockies played 2 1/2 games. It lasted 22 innings, and ended around 4:30 a.m. eastern time.

Crazy.

Anyway, there's really no rhyme or reason to this post other than to express my love for extra inning affairs. I love the drama and do-or-die of the extras. Granted, I do only like the games where the Mets come out on top, and when they don't, extra innings stink.

Last night's game ended just before 12:00 a.m., and I am lucky enough to have been in Shea much later. Last year, when Jorge Sosa took on the Chicago Cubs after a three hour rain delay, I was in Shea Stadium until past 12:30 a.m. I thought that was a pretty cool tidbit.

Also, Citi Group, obviously the business that owns the naming rights to Citi Field, just posted a $5.1 billion loss in the first quarter.

Wow. Maybe this opens up a chance for Met Life to steal the rights.

Game Recap: Mets 3 -- Nationals 2

In a game that started with superb pitching, it ended with on a wild pitch. It took 14 innings, but the New York Mets finally topped the Washington Nationals late Thursday night by a score of 3-2.

Nelson Figueroa and John Lannan were the stars early in this game. Lannan went six innings, allowing only one run on three hits. He struck out 11 batters and set down 16 in a row through innings one to six. Lannan allowed a leadoff hit to Jose Reyes, a double to Ryan Church off the glove of Wily Mo Pena to plate Reyes before starting his streak of setting the Mets down before Reyes singled in the sixth to break it up.

For the Mets, Figueroa went seven strong innings, allowing only three hits. The two earned runs charged to came on a two run home run by Nick Johnson in the top of the fourth inning. Johnson crushed a ball to deep right field, which brought home Ryan Zimmerman. Figueroa set down the side in order in the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth. Figueroa used 101 pitches to get through the seven innings.

Two amazing starts from these guys. Lannan was on fire for those innings, as was Figueroa. They were matching zeros for a while there. What else can I say here? These two were amazing, but neither of them were even close to factoring into the final. If Figueroa keeps this up, he's going to be huge in New York. A homegrown boy pitching for his favorite childhood team. Someone start writing the screenplay.

The Mets bullpen come on and put together seven straight scoreless innings, adding on to Figueroa's three. The Nationals only picked up six hits in the game, one coming against Duaner Sanchez and two coming against Jorge Sosa. Here's the rundown: Aaron Heilman pitched the eighth inning, striking out one. Billy Wagner came in for the ninth, with the game tied, also striking out one. Then Duaner Sanchez pitched 1 2-3 of an inning, allowing one hit and one walk, and also striking out one. With one on in the 11th, Pedro Feliciano came in to face Johnson, and promptly walked him. This was Feliciano's only batter, as he was removed in a double switch in favor of Joe Smith. Smith logged 1 1-3 of an inning, striking out one. Jorge Sosa came on in the 13th inning, working two innings, allowing two hits, walking one and striking out two.

Wow. Scott Schoeneweis was the only pitcher left in the bullpen when they ended it in the 14th. Amazing stuff from the bullpen to shut down the Nats. Honestly, even though the bats struggled at times, what an amazing outing by Mets pitchers, all around. Great stuff, just downright great stuff.

The Mets offense scored early, when needed, and when they wanted to go home. They had chances in between, but eventually did what they needed to do to win.

They got on the board early, as detailed above, with Reyes singling to start off the game and Church doubling off the glove of Pena in left field. That's when Lannan kicked in and didn't allow another base runner until the sixth inning.

I thought the Mets were going to have a huge day after the first two batters, but Randy St. Claire went out to talk to his pitcher, and obviously said something that resonated.

The Mets were held quiet until the seventh inning. Saul Rivera pitched the seventh for the Nationals, and the Mets threatened to score. Delgado walked, and Angel Pagan singled to right to start the inning. After a Brady Clark sacrifice, Raul Casanova lined out to third and Luis Castillo grounded out to end the inning. In the eighth, the Mets came through to tie it up, as everything happened with two outs and was caused by an error on the part of Ronnie Belliard. Church, with two outs, grounded softly to Belliard, who plays very deep in the hole at second, came charging on, but the ball bounced off the tip of his glove and he could not make the play. After a David Wright walk, Carlos Delgado broke a 0-14 streak, singling to right field and scoring Church, tying up the game at two a piece.

The team is not getting the big hits, but doing just enough, which can only get them so far. Delgado has been looking rough at the plate, and I'm not about to forgive him for it all after one big hit. He needs to go back to his diary (if he's left it at all, I'm not sure, but they haven't shown it at all so I'm just making an educated guess here) and start logging his at bats. It's worked before. And I'll say it again, he needs to give up going yard. He needs to put his head down and go with the pitch. Work the other way for doubles, singles, whatever you can get. If the home run comes, then good, but don't swing for it.

In the ninth, the Mets threatened, as Castillo singled and stole second with two outs as Carlos Beltran pinch hit. Unfortunately for the bullpens, Beltran struck out swinging on a curveball from Jon Rauch. The teams traded chances, going back and forth a few times with each team threatening occasionally. Nothing happened until the 14th.

In the 14th, Damion Easley started off the inning with his second single through the hole on the left side. Reyes, trying to bunt for a hit for the second time of the game, couldn't lay it down and popped it up to Joel Hanrahan. Easley moved to second base on a wild pitch, a foreshadowing of what was going to happen. Hanrahan attempted to pickoff Easley at second, but the ball got away, and Easley moved to third. Church struck out swinging, and the Nats decided to intentionally walk Wright and Delgado to get to the pitchers spot. With only Schoeneweis up in the pen, and not warming up, Willie Randolph made a risky decision and decided to pinch hit his last bench player, Brian Schneider. On the first pitch to Schneider, Hanrahan bounced it a few feet short of the plate, and the ball skipped by Wil Nieves. Easley sprinted home and ended the game, sliding in to home and giving the Mets the sweep of the series.

Crazy stuff. I love extra innings, the drama that comes with it is the best. I was standing on the couch, and I'm surprised I didn't hit the ceiling when the ball got away and Easley took off for home. I love it. Good stuff!

Game ball: Figueroa and Easley.

Beardless watch: 6-2.

We're into the 13th

Don't think I skipped out on the recap tonight, the Mets and the Nationals are just starting the 13th inning, tied 2-2.

Figueroa's final line

Nelson Figueroa: 7 IP, 3 hits, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K.

Only runs came on a Nick Johnson HR in the fourth. John Lannan has been equally impressive for the Nats. Great game going on right now.

Good stuff by Figgy. He's been excellent.