Make that three losses in a row.
The Los Angeles Dodgers (28-13) beat the New York Mets (21-18) by a score of 5-3.
John Maine was good for five innings. The sixth inning, not so much. Maine allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits through the first five innings, then allowed three runs on four hits in the 1-3 of the sixth inning he pitched. A three-run home run off the bat of Casey Blake was the dagger.
When Maine is also the top offensive performer, you know something is wrong. Maine drove in two runs in the second inning with a single to center field. David Wright and Jeremy Reed scored. Wright drove in a run of his own in the next inning.
This team lets the other team hang around too long. After drumming up opposing pitcher Chad Billingsley to 77 pitches through three innings, the Mets went quietly (12 in a row) into the seventh inning. Instead of breaking into the bullpen early, the Mets let Billingsley and the Dodgers hang around and it cost them.