The Mets took the first of three games against the Cardinals on Friday night, 7-2.  They have now won three straight and have a two game lead in the NL East.   

The Cardinals came to town fresh off a four game sweep by the Brewers, so it was important for the Mets to jump on them fast and keep them down.  And the Mets did just that.  They got a great performance out of Mike Pelfrey and the offense did their job too.   

Mike Pelfrey, was great.  He pitched seven innings giving up just one run off seven hits.  He issued no walks and struck out five.  The Mets have now won the last seven games that Pelfrey has started.  Pelfrey, who earlier in the season was 2-6 and had a 5.27 era (as of May 20^th), now has a 3.67 era with an 8-6 record.  It is amazing, the turn around in this guy, it is like a light went on.  He has been great!

David Wright hit a RBI double in the third that scored Endy Chavez (4-5 on the night) to give the Mets an early 1-0 lead.  The Mets added two more on Jose Reyes 12 triple of the year.  Carlos Delgado continues to make the case to be the player of the Month of July, he is not going to want to see July end.  He had only one hit last night, but it was a big two run homer.  Argenis Reyes had a big night, he hit a RBI single and then in the seventh he hit his first big league homerun, a solo shot to right centerfield.  

The bullpen, once again, tried to make things interesting.  Duaner Sanchez allowed three straight Cardinals to reach base.  With the bases loaded, Pedro Felicano came in and got Skip Schumaker to pop up.  With one out, and the bases still loaded, Aaron Heilman got Ryan Ludwick to fly out, but allowed the run on third to score.  Heilman got Albert Pujols to ground out to third to end the game.   

So, the Mets have a two game lead, and Jimmy Rollins isn’t sweating it.  Glad to know that the Phillies went out and lost to the Braves last night, I guess they are looking just to make things interesting, huh?  Funny, I officially hate the Phillies, for so long they had been a nonentity and Mets fans were always so focused on the Braves, well I guess all of that has changed.   

And also, while we are on the subject of the Phillies, maybe their broadcast guys need to shut the hell up.  Tom McCarthy didn’t seem to have much of a problem with Jose Reyes when he was broadcasting Mets games.  And, isn’t it socially irresponsible for Larry Anderson to advocate throwing at someone’s head?  Everyone’s all pissed off at the fact that Reyes hotdogged the homerun, and while that is not my favorite part of the game these days, Reyes is right, he came through in a big spot.  Also, I would like to hear what Larry Anderson, and Charlie Manual have to say when Ryan Howard strikes his homerun pose?  If you are going to bag on Reyes, then you better start saying the same things about your hotdogs too!   

OMG-Are you kidding me?  Why would anyone trade with the Yankees?  And seriously, Russ Ohlendorf?  Wow, so is this the dialogue between the Yankees and Pirates?  Yankees: “We want Nady and Marte.”  Pirates: “Uh, ok.  We would like “Russ Olendorff, a bag of balls, and throw in a hotdog, cuz you guys have those funny looking hotdog rolls!”  This might be the worst trade I’ve seen since I saw a minor league hockey player was traded for the other team’s bus-no telling who got the better deal there.  This trade makes me so angry-I hate the Yankees!  I know the Pirates have been eyeing Phil Coke for quite some time!  WOO-HOO!!  I just don’t understand how other teams make these trades with Yankees, giving them their gems and getting nothing in return.   

In other trade talk, it seems that the Dodgers on the verge of acquiring Casey Blake from the Indians.  So that is one player less likely to end up with the Mets.  Also, are the Mariners living in reality?  Do they really think the Mets would trade Fernando Martinez for Raul Ibanez? 

Brandon Knight will start for Pedro Martinez on Saturday night, and the Cardinals will have Joel Pineiro on the mound.  Game time is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.

Mets Blog