Game #113: Braves 6, Mets 5

Daniel Murphy requires some attention after colliding with Jose Constanza in the seventh inning. (NYDailyNews.com)

Of course: the game, the series, possibly the season, would come down to that guy.

Chipper Jones once again affirmed his stance as the ultimate Met killer, delivering the game-winning run in the top of the 9th and dealing the Mets the game and series loss, 6-5.

The Bad Stuff:

• Before we even get to the man who I'm convinced hides devil horns below that cap, there is a more pressing matter at hand. Jose Reyes left the game in the 2nd inning with what's being described as a "stiff left hamstring." This was the same hamstring that gave him trouble in July, that forced him on the DL for a couple weeks. On paper, it doesn't sound too bad, a "stiff left hamstring." But Ike Davis' injury didn't seem bad on paper either. Or David Wright's. Or Reyes' first hamstring problem. Shall we leave it at that?
• Now back to our regularly scheduled loss. And once again, it was same-ol', same-ol' when Atlanta comes to town: New York gets buried by a man named Larry. Jones entered the game in the 7th, and got the last laugh in the 9th, grounding a single to right off Bobby Parnell that scored Alex Gonzales.
• As unlikely as it seems, we may have witnessed the birth of a new Met killer this weekend: one Jose Constanza. George's brother? Not quite, Kramer. Cousin? Shut up. A career minor leaguer, 27-year-old Constanza was called up in late July. In this 3-game series, Constanza went 5-11, scored thrice, drove in a run every game, and this afternoon hit his first career home run off Dillon Gee.
• Oh, and get this: Constanza may have actually killed a Met: he slid hard into Daniel Murphy at second in the 7th, and Murph went down with injury.
• Speaking of Gee, his numbers were far from crisp this afternoon: 5 innings, 6 hits, 5 runs, including 3 home runs.

The Good Stuff:

• Willie Harris unexpectedly did a fine job in Reyes' spot in the order, going 2-3 with a pair of RBI singles. Jason Bay also had a fine offensive day, reaching base 5 times (3-3, 2 walks) and crossing the plate 3 times.
• Nick Evans made his presence felt at the plate as well: despite making the final out (grounder to that Larry person), he went 2-5, scored a pair of runs, and became the 142nd third baseman in Mets history (you can count them all here).
• The bullpen was solid until the 9th: DJ Carrasco, Manny Acosta, Tim Byrdak, and Bobby Parnell kept the Braves off the board in the 6th, 7th, and 8th innings (never mind Parnell's performance in the 9th).

Final Analysis:
Reyes injures, Chipper kills. What more is there to say?

Thankfully, New York will welcome one of the NL's universal health spas, the San Diego Padres, into Citi Field for the next four days. Perhaps they can provide some relief, and maybe even a sweep. But if the Mets can't manage a series win against the hapless Friars, the season is likely lost.

MM

Wheeler Watch
Zack Wheeler will make his second start in the Mets' organization tonight at 5:30, when the Port St. Lucie Mets take on the Rays-affiliated Charlotte Stone Crabs (don't you love minor league nicknames?).

**Update: 6:00 p.m.**
Now it looks like Daniel Murphy, one of the NL's top hitters this year, will "almost certainly" go on the DL. Well, that's it. Game #113, I'm calling it. Season over. All you can say is "Wait till next year." Maybe next year we'll all be healthy again.

Wheeler Watch Update: 8:10 p.m.
Zack Wheeler's second start for Class A Port St. Lucie was infinitely better than the first: no runs on 4 hits in 6 innings, 7 strikeouts, no walks. That's the way you do it.

Wheeler Watch Update: 8:25 p.m.
PSL Mets beat Charlotte 5-2, Zack Wheeler picks up his first win with the Mets' organization.