On the Mets beat

Erik Boland as the masterblogger-bloggermaster for tonight’s Mets game. It’s John Maine (5-4, 3.41 ERA) against the Dodgers Clayton Kershaw (0-0, 3.00) as the Mets go for their fourth straight victory.

Tim Robbins is in centerfield right now as the official countdown person – 56 games and counting at Shea. I watched Robbins sign a bunch of autographs near the Mets dugout before the game. The Academy Award winner signed a ball that also had Nick Evans signature. Joshua Robinson of the Times observed, “Probably not too many balls out there with Nick Evans and Tim Robbins’ signatures on them.”

Probably not. All right, the live blog is up and running. Go to it.

Top 1st -- Rough first inning for Maine as back-to-back doubles by James Loney and Russell Martin lead to two runs and a single up the middle from Andre Ethier makes it 3-0 Dodgers. A 30 pitch inning for Maine.

Bottom 1st -- Mets get two back on Luis Castillo's third home run of the season, a two-run bullet to left. 3-2 Dodgers.

Top 2nd -- Easy inning for Maine as it stays 3-2.

Bottom 2nd -- And the Mets go just as quietly, 1-2-3...

Top 3rd -- Maine another good inning, striking out Kent and Loney back-to-back. 3-2 Dodgers.

Bottom 3rd -- Beltran's SAC fly ties it at 3-3 heading to the top of the fourth.

Top 4th Good day for Martin. Follow's first inning double with solo home run to make it 4-3 Dodgers.

Bottom 4th -- Mets get one, should have had more. 4-4.

Top 5th -- Strong inning from Maine, keeping it tied 4-4.

Bottom 5th -- And the Mets don't mount much there against Park, keeping it 4-4.

Bottom 7th -- Mets leave 'em loaded again but might have gotten just enough as they take a 5-4 lead. Feliciano still pitching.

Top 8th -- Heilman. That says it all. 7-5 Dodgers going into the bottom of the eighth.

Bottom 9th -- Mets get a couple of baserunners but Delgado grounds out to end it. 9-5 final for the Dodgers. Good night.