Game #140: Braves 3, Mets 2 (10)

And the train keeps on...not rolling.

The Braves broke through in the top of the 10th and the Mets wasted more opportunities at the plate, falling in a sweep 3-2.

The Bad Stuff:

• Make it 10 in a row without eclipsing 3 runs at home. Today the team went 2-9 with RISP and left 7 men on base.
• The key moments of futility came in the 8th, 9th, and 10th innings.
• After Ruben Tejada reached on an error in the 8th, Daniel Murphy singled him over to third base. David Wright, already with one RBI in the game, failed to plate Tejada, grounding out softly to the right side.
• In the 9th, Ike Davis led off with a single, but Lucas Duda and Kelly Shoppach struck out, failing to advance pinch-running Jason Bay. Andres Torres was the last chance after Bay stole second himself, but Torres grounded out to end the threat.
• After Bobby Parnell allowed a run to score in the top of the 10th, Jordany Valdespin led off with a single of his own. Tejada sac-bunted him over to second, and Valdespin stole third base during a Scott Hairston strikeout. Murphy, who had a monster game at the plate (see Good Stuff), was walked to bring David Wright up for a chance at redemption. Chance squandered: Wright swung at the second pitch from Peter Moylan to fly out to right field, and Chipper Jones's ballclub left Citi Field for the last time in 2012 with the last laugh.

The Good Stuff:

• Chris Young turned in a quality start, going 6 innings and allowing 2 runs on 5 hits with 4 walks and 7 strikeouts.
• Daniel Murphy went 3-4 with 2 doubles and both New York runs.
• David Wright and Ike Davis picked up the RBIs on the day, continuing their chase for the team lead; Wright leads slightly, 80-78.

Final Analysis:
How quickly things can turn around: 8 of 9 wins a couple weeks ago has turned into 5 of 6 losses this week. Starting pitching was there today, and so was the bullpen for the most part, but the bats were locked away somewhere and couldn't make it in time.

Wish I could have given you some more fanfare for Midwestern Met's 300th post, but unfortunately that's not happening today. Ho-hum, wait till next time. At least with the Nationals coming into town the Mets won't have to face Stephen Strasburg anymore.

MM