On the Mets beat

My bad about last night.....which I said was the final game of a three-game series. TONIGHT is actually the final game of a FOUR-game series. But, the Mets are STILL trying to prohibit a Braves sweep after another disheartening performance last night. Luckily, the Mets have ace Johan Santana (5-2, 3.30) on the mound. Should be a quality pitching match-up, as Braves RHP Tim Hudson (6-3, 3.06) will be on the hill for Atlanta. The Mets will have to make do, however, without the help of Moises Alou and Ryan Church. Marlon Anderson in left field for Alou, and Castillo will be filling the 2-hole tonight.

Have at 'em Mets fans. I can only imagine the amount of displeasure you're just waiting to vent, just keep those comments clean, and PG!

Katie

Top 1st
Jose Reyes goes down swinging, Castillo can't leg out his bunt, and Wright grounds out for a 1-2-3 inning for Hudson. Not a good start.
0-0

Bottom 1st
Anderson, not a true outfielder, goes back to the wall on Infante's shot, but boy did that look shaky and awkward. Kotsay gets the first hit of the night on a single to center, but a double play sends it to the second.
0-0

Top 2nd
Back-to-back home runs to open the second from Beltran and Delgado. That should provide some spark to the dugout and a lil bit of cushion for Santana.
2-0

Bottom 2nd
Yikes, Schneider flubs an easy out to first on Tex's chopper, and he'll receive an error for that. Anderson makes another good play at the wall to rob Francoeur...he's getting a workout tonight! Two on and two out, and Johnson drives in an RBI single after Castillo passes up the throw to first and decides to launch it home. Santana k's Hudson to end the inning, but not before the Braves strike back.
2-1 Mets

Top 3rd
After getting hit hard last inning, Hudson shoes a little resilience, retiring the Mets in order.
2-1 Mets

Bottom 3rd
Chipper slices to right for a base hit to keep the inning alive, and Tex keeps it goin' with a single to left, but Anderson gets his glove on Francoeur's fly ball for the third out.
2-1 Mets

Top 4th
Another 1-2-3 inning for Hudson.
2-1

Bottom 4th
Johnson gets a soft single with two outs, but Santana keeps Braves contained.
2-1 Mets

Top 5th
Wow. Santana almost homers. I mean he wasn't thisclose or anything, but c'mon he's a pitcher! Mets go down in order once again, and Hudson has been extremely efficient since the second inning.
2-1 Mets

Bottom 5th
Santana with a 1-2-3 of his own.
2-1 Mets

Top 6th
Castillo scrapes a hit off Hudson, who had retired the past 11 consecutive batters, but with one on and one out, Wright grounds into a double play.
2-1 Mets

Bottom 6th
McCann drives one past Santana to center for a base hit, but Santana remains sharp through six.
2-1 Mets

Top 7th
Beltran leads off with a single and steals second with Delgado up to bat. Anderson doubles, but a base-running gaffe gets Beltran caught in a pickle. One on, two outs. Anderson stranded as Schneider's grounder sends us to the stretch.
2-1

Bottom 7th
Beltran trucks over to cut off Johnson's shot to the right gap, but can't filed it cleanly. Hudson up to bat showing bunt, and Santana throws him some chin music. Hudson is NOT HAPPY about that. Infante bloops one to center field for an RBI single to tie the game. Kotsay with a base hit to put runners at the corners with one out. Jones drives home Infante for the winning run. Good double play on the comeback pitch, but Santana gives up a third before the inning's over.
4-2 ATL

Top 8th
Church comes in to pinch hit and produces a base hit. Two on an one out, and Braves turn a nice DP. Gotta be aggravating for the Mets, especially given the fat that they must know there are gonna be a LOT of questions that need answering tomorrow if they get swept.
4-2
4-2

Bottom 8th
Feliciano in now to pitch. He comes up clutch with a 1-2-3, and now the Mets have their big guns up to bat (take that with a grain of salt).
4-2 ATL

Top 9th
Acosta in to pitch. Not the most battle-tested, but we'll see if the Mets make him sweat. Wright singles to left. Beltran lines out and Wright gets doubled up. Now is the time for Mets fans to pull out that paper bag and place it over your head. Kotsay with a great, diving catch insert the dagger. Break out the brooms.
Final 4-2 Atlanta