Game #24: Mets 6, Nationals 3

Jose Reyes argued extensively with third base umpire after being called out in the eighth inning, but escaped an ejection. (NYTimes.com)

Wooo!!! What a way to make it six-for-six!!!

Daniel Murphy came through in the biggest way, as the never-say-die Mets erupted for five runs in the final two innings to steal a win from the Nationals, 6-3.

The Good Stuff:

• We start with Wednesday's Mr. Clutch. Daniel Murphy wasn't even in the starting lineup tonight, Terry Collins favoring Justin Turner at second base for a matchup advantage. But with 2 out in the top of the 8th, Murphy blasted a pinch hit home run just over the right field fence, tying the game at 2. One inning later with NY up 4-3, Murphy delivered again, sending a laser shot into right field; when the dust settled, Danny Boy was on second and 2 more runs were in.
• Other offensive props to the starting second baseman, Turner, who picked up his first RBI of the year with a solid single in the 3rd. The other RBIs came from Chin-lung Hu's game-tying sac fly (a defensive replacement who can hit...who knew?) and Josh Thole's go-ahead groundout, both in the 9th.
• On any other day, R.A. Dickey would have picked up the win: just 2 runs in 6 2/3 innings of work. But the offense gave him no help for 7 innings, so let's leave it at that. Fransisco Rodriguez picked up a solid 4-man save (the day he gets a 3-man save seems far off) to seal the deal.

The Bad Stuff:

• Count the offense for the first 7 under Bad Stuff today. The Amazin's couldn't get anything going against Washington starter Tom Gorzelanny. Fortunately they were able to get it going in the last 2, so let's leave it at that.
• Also going under Bad Stuff? A first for Midwestern Met: an umpire. Third base umpire Marvin Hudson, to be specific. In the 8th, Jose Reyes appeared to stretch a double into a triple, but was called out for being tagged on an overslide. Replay clearly showed Reyes was on the bag the whole time, but umpires never change their calls, and an infuriated Reyes (see the above photo) was sent back to the bench. You can find the clip here. Was he on the bag or off it? You decide. Here's a hint: he was on it.

Final Analysis:
Normally bad breaks like that spell doom for the Mets. Not on this night. Not during this winning streak, which now sits at a solid six, making it the longest active streak in the Bigs. New York is 7-3 in their last 10; only Florida, Boston, and Tampa Bay are doing as well.

Tomorrow, we go for another sweep and lucky seven. Can we pull it off? If we can win even when a blown call goes against us, we've got as good a chance as any.

MM

P.S. Found this on the Daily News site. Way to go Ike!