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Best Of A Bad Situation

The Mets could very easily have lost today's game. Instead, they won it 6-5 in 11 innings on an RBI double by the slumping Kaz Matsui. Matsui started the game on the bench, but came on as a pinch runner for Jason Phillips in the 8th. Steve Trachsel pitched effectively again, but John Franco and David Weathers combined to give up three runs in the eighth, turning a 3-2 lead into a 5-3 deficit.

The Mets didn't play particularly poorly today, but were the unfortunate recipients of some unlucky breaks. It looked like Franco would get out of the eighth unscathed, but ex-Met Brady Clark blooped one into centerfield for a two-run single. Scott Podsednik followed with a high-bouncing bunt that landed in between Mike Stanton and Phillips, scoring the Brewers fifth run.

The Mets could have rolled over and died, but rallied to tie the game in the eighth, eventually forcing extra innings. Art Howe once again gets a gold star for using his best reliever, Braden Looper, in a tie game to shut down Milwaukee in the 9th and 10th. The Mets eventually broke through in the 11th on a walk to Todd Zeile, and infield hit to Karim Garcia, and Matsui's game-winner.

Home plate umpire Marvin Hudson was definitely the LVP (Least Valuable Player) in this game. His calls were very erratic and inconsistent, as hitters and pitchers from both teams were often left shaking their heads. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed, and the Mets salvage the third game of this series. The Mets fly to Arizona tonight to begin a three-game series against the Diamondbacks tomorrow.