Game #37: Cardinals 4, Mets 2

To paraphrase an elderly Michael Corleone, "Just when we thought we were out, they pull us back in."

(NYDailyNews.com)

Rick Ankiel's home run tied it in the 7th but a Scott Rice wild pitch led to the go-ahead run in the next half inning as the Cardinals knocked off the Mets again, 4-2.

The Bad Stuff:

• Tied 2-2 in the 7th, Shaun Marcum got through the first two St. Louis batters with ease. The next few, however, not so much. Daniel Descalso walked and Pete Kozma singled him over to third. Scott Rice was brought on in relief, but his first pitch was a wild one that allowd Descalso to score. Whoops.
• LaTroy Hawkins allowed one more run during a flawed 8th inning in relief.
• On rare occasions when New York had RISP they did not capitalize, hitting 0-4 in those situations and stranding five men on base.

The Good Stuff:

• In spite of the loss, Marcum turned in his best start of the season, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits in 6.2 innings, walking one and striking out three on 96 pitches. He also helped his own cause at the plate with two hits.
• In his second start in center field, Rick Ankiel produced the Mets' runs with a two-run opposite-field home run in the 7th inning that tied the game at 2-2.
• Daniel Murphy went just 1-4, but his one hit was his 11th double on the season.

Final Analysis:
On a better day, the Mets might have won this one. Starting pitching was strong for the first time in what seems like forever (excluding Matt Harvey's starts, of course). Unfortunately, the two other elements failed to show up, as hitting and relief pitching played into the hands of the Redbirds. Marcum and Ankiel were the stars of the day; for New York to get back on track, both of them will have to be at the top of their respective games.

The Mets begin a stretch of four straight day games tomorrow afternoon as they wrap of the series beneath the Arch; they will travel to Wrigley Field for the weekend set with the Cubs.

MM