Jon Niese was awesome in his second start.  He pitched eight shut out innings, allowing only six hits.  Niese walked two and struck out seven.  It was a great outing for him, especially considering that his last outing didn’t go so well.  It was a shot in the arm for the Mets and (hopefully) a look at the future. 

 

The Mets offense was much better in the second game.  Carlos Beltran, David Wright and Jose Reyes all hit homeruns.  (Reyes was 3-5 in the second game)  Carlos Beltran has been red hot, he has an eleven game hitting streak, and is 18 for his last 42, meaning that during this hot streak he is hitting .429.  This is perfect time for him to get hot!  Luis Ayala closed out the game, he allowed two hits but no runs and stuck out one.  

 

The second game was what the Mets needed.  Because of how the schedule has worked out and because the Mets lost game one of the double header to the Braves, the Phillies picked up a half game in the standings.  Geez-could the Brewers show up at all?  The Brewers have lost the first two games of the series and now the two teams will play a double header this afternoon.  The Phillies are all po’d though because they asked the Brewers to stay in town and play Monday instead of playing the double header today and the Brewers declined, and it is basically so that they can save Sabathia for when the Brewers meet the Cubs on Tuesday.  Basically the Brewers have decided that their fight is more important than the Phillies.  I don’t blame them.  The Brewers are still fighting to get themselves into the playoffs.  Although, how great would it be to watching Sabathia just mow down that Phillies offense?

 

Headed into play today, the Mets have 15 games left.  On Monday they begin a four game series with the Nationals, then they travel to Atlanta for three.  They come home on Sept. 22 to play four with the Cubs and then finish the season with three against the Marlins.  In that time frame, the Phillies will have an off day on Monday, then will travel to Atlanta for a three game series  and then they’ll play three in Florida.  They return home to play three with Atlanta, and then after an off day on September 25th, they Phillies will complete their season with a three game set against the Nationals.  Every game has meaning-I love this time of year!  

 

The Mets will wrap up their last series ever at Shea Stadium with the Atlanta Braves this afternoon.  Chipper Jones has not played in this series because of a sore back but he did bring his four year old son, Shea to New York this trip.  Of course Shea Jones thinks that Shea Stadium was named after him!  Jorge Campillo will take the mound for the Braves and the Mets will throw Oliver Perez.  Game time is scheduled for 1:10 p.m.