Mets won 8-2 on Wednesday night salvaging the last game of their interleague series against the Seattle Mariners.  Hopefully this win can propel them into a productive series against the Yankees this coming weekend. 

After the poor offensive output on Tuesday, Jerry Manual said that lineup changes might be in store for his team.  However, Wednesday night’s line up looked pretty much the same, the only changes were Marlon Anderson in left field and Fernando Tatis in right field.  The Mets scored eight runs on five hits, and all of those coming in the first three innings.  Jose Reyes was 1-3 hitting a three run homer in the bottom of the third; he also walked once and stole a base.  David Wright had a big night as he was 2-3 hitting two homeruns, three RBI and two runs scored.  Wright sat out on Tuesday night, missing his first start of the season and it seems that the day off did him some good. 

 The Mets are 17-8 when John Maine starts after a loss and Maine has a 13-6 record in those games.  On Wednesday Maine earned his 8^th win of the season, pitching well for the Mets when, according to catcher Brian Schneider they were faced with a “Must win” situation.  Having an early lead had to help, and Maine admitted as much in the post game interview.  Over six innings of work he allowed two runs on two hits, walked two and recorded three strikeouts.  The bullpen looked good, Aaron Heilman, Joe Smith, and Duaner Sanchez all pitched scoreless innings in relief.   

Better game for the Mets on Wednesday night.  You had to figure they would play better than they did the night before, than again with the Mets you never know because it seems that the one knack this team does have, is finding ways to lose ballgames.  I know, this is going to sound like I am hard to please, but it is frustrating that the Mets always seem to coast.  For example, the Mets jumped out to an early lead, chased starter Miguel Bautista from the game after just 2 2/3 innings, and granted they scored 8 runs early, but they didn’t have another base runner past the third inning.  It seems like they get ahead and then just go through the motions for the rest of the game.  And forget it when they fall behind it is like the game stops there for them, they just can’t wait for it to be over; they don’t really fight their way back.  This season has been strange and unlike any other season I’ve seen from them before.  It is one thing when your team is just horrible, but this team doesn’t really have an identity other than underachieving. 

After the Mets fired Willie Randolph, I questioned why they would name Jerry Manual the “Interim Manager” thinking that if they were searching for a change of coaching philosophy, why would they go with Randolph’s right hand man?   But, Manual is growing on me a little bit.  However, I’d like it if his record as manager was a little better.  But  I guess what I like is that he is just a little more animated and fiery than Randolph.  No matter what the situation was, Randolph always put up the same face, and in some situations that is probably a really good thing, but I think when a team was struggling as much as the Mets were, it would have been nice to hear Willie say something that somehow made the fans feel like he was as frustrated as the fans were.  Manual, at least for right now, is saying the right things.

The Mets have an off day on Thursday and return Friday, playing a twilight doubleheader against the Yankees.  Game one is at Yankee Stadium scheduled to start at 2:05 p.m. with Mike Pelfrey will pitch game one for the Mets and Dan Giese for the Yankees.  Pedro Martinez and Sidney Ponson will start the night cap at Shea Stadium will begin at 8:05. 

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