Unhappy Recap: Nationals 4 Mets 3

Not a terrible performance by Perez. Sometimes guys give up 3-run homers. He held them without much else for 6 more innings. And no walks. Plus 9 strikeouts. With the Mets offense you'd have to settle for that performance every time.

But the offense just couldn't get the big hit. In a few innings the rally fell into the lap of Oliver Perez. In the last of those cases with the tying run on second in the 8th, Willie brought in Julio Franco. I don't get it. Why not bring in a lefty like Endy Chavez who always seems to get the job done instead of bringing in a righty to face the righty Jon Rauch.

Keeping Franco on the roster at age 74 is not a big deal, but using him when someone else would be better is going to cause problems for this team, especially in the playoffs, if they make it that far.

The Mets must win the next 2 games to avoid splitting a 6 game stretch with two of the worst teams in the majors.