Unhappy Recap: Braves 13 Mets 5

For the second straight start El Duque got hammered, this time giving up 8 runs in only 3 innings. His ERA has gone up from 3.07 to 3.75 in those two starts.

I thought El Duque might wiggle his way out of it, after he walked in a run he got a double play when Beltran nailed McCann at home to end the second inning with only one run.

One thing about that play that really pissed me off. Paul LoDuca didn't block the plate. He stood out of the baseline and reached out with his glove. He easily could have missed the tag or had the ball jarred loose.



But El Duque couldn't settle down, he had no control, walking Kelly Johnson to lead off the third, then giving up a home run to Yunel Escobar.

And things got even worse for El Duque in the 4th. The first 5 batters of the inning reached base against him for 3 more runs. Aaron Sele came out of the bullpen and got two outs, but then allowed a homer to Mark Teixeira to make the score 9-0 and pretty much end this one.

There were some good signs on offense. Jose Reyes had his second good game in a row, hitting three doubles. He should have scored in the first but he was too anxious on a comebacker and got thrown out by the pitcher.

Moises Alou and Paul LoDuca both homered.

The Mets wore their caps with NYPD, FDNY, PAPD and OEM logos on them as they did right after 9/11 in 2001.



Cool picture of David Wright pursuing a foul ball.