Five Run Streak

After a July filled with dashed hopes and a seemingly relinquished season, the Mets managed to rattle off a five game win streak with series victories against both the Astros and Rockies. Hope was built back up again for some. You yourself might have had one or two of those "maybe, just maybe" moments. All was quickly to be blighted when Arizona came to town to take three of four in our house.

Consider last night's loss in particular a micro-version of the past week. I entered the stadium feeling pretty good about a series split. Nelson Figueroa had been pitching well enough in Buffalo to make me feel as such - that and the other alternatives appeared no better. Key word there is appeared and only appeared.

Figgy gave up six runs in an inning and two-thirds. The crowd cheered at the sight of Jerry finally walking up the dugout steps to pull him for Tim Bearding (seriously Tim - that thing is out of control). That's right, cheering for Tim Redding. 38,000+ fans and I were already left despondent by the middle of the second. That was gonna be it. No way were we going to come back from this, especially against Dan Haren. Game over.

Then came the 5th inning. At this point I'm walking around the field level just casually taking in the game while enjoying a few oat sodas with a friend from Arizona. Crack, Cora hits a single. Grission single. Pagan walk. All of a sudden the bases are juiced for Castillo - he keeps the small ball alive. Wright follows suit. By the end of the inning we're only down 6 - 4. Hope was built back up. 6th inning quickly comes around. Murphy led things off with a shot to right. Now it's 6 - 5. Maybe, just maybe.

Or maybe not. First pitch Francouer and the rest of the Mets just couldn't get over the hump. They never really threatened after Murphy's shot. A week within a game and a game within a week both simultaneously ended with a loss. Hope dashed and built back up, rinsed and repeated, ending on a whimper.