The New York Mets returned to Shea Stadium to take on the Atlanta Braves for the first of three games.  After a rain shortened series in Atlanta earlier this month where the Mets lost both games by a combined score of 14-6; the Mets needed to take this opportunity and make a statement to the Braves, while putting some distance between the two in the standings.  It was the Braves who made the statement winning 6-3.   

Starter Mike Pelfrey struggled early and often.  In the first inning he walked three Braves and gave up one hit; he got himself out of a bases loaded jam and limited the damage to just one run.  It wasn’t until the fifth that Pelfrey finally retired a hitter who lead of the inning getting Chipper Jones to ground out.  In the sixth, Pelfrey gave up a two run shot to Kelly Johnson, the Braves would stay on top for good.  Jose Reyes recorded an error for a second straight night when his throw on a routine grounder pulled first baseman Marlon Anderson off the bag.  Pelfrey would leave the game at that point going 51/3, giving up 5 runs on 5 hits, he walked four and struck out one; he was was replaced by Scott Schoeneweis who finished the inning with out giving up another run. 

The Mets scored all three of their runs in the third inning when Braves starter Jair Jurrjens gave up three runs on two hits (the only two hits the Mets would record on the night) and four consecutive walks.  In the midst of all this, Braves manager Bobby Cox was thrown out of the game for the 136th time in his career after coming out of the dugout to argue with umpire Tim McClelland.  In the seventh, the Mets looked like they would rally when Will Ohman gave up back to back walks to Jose Reyes and Luis Castillo  who both failed to produce with RISP.  On the night the Mets stranded 5 runners. 

Marlon Anderson played first base giving Carlos Delgado a much needed night off, Delgado struck out when he pinch hit in the ninth.  Brian Schneider is expected to be in the hospital until Sunday.  

The Mets continue to struggle in all facets of the game playing shoddy defense, getting poor pitching, and not swinging the bat well at all.  There is much talk in New York about the return of Moises Alou to the lineup, however if the Mets are going to remain competitive in the division they are going to need Jose Reyes to get on base and the bats of Delgado, Beltran and Wright as well.  The next two games against the Braves are critical, the pitching match ups favor the Braves and it doesn’t help that the Met’s bats are dead.  Mets fans have a lot to be worried about. 

Mets Blog