Mets Success with RISP is Offensive

Since Gary Sheffield's solo home run on May 13th, the Mets have gone seven games, almost 70 innings, and 265 official at-bats without hitting a home run. That even wouldn't be too bad if they were hitting in clutch situations with runners in scoring position, but they're not even doing that.

Yesterday's 2-1 loss to the Dodgers saw them go 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position as the team lost their fourth straight and got swept by the Manny-less Dodgers. They certainly had their chances to win this game, but once again the timely hit eluded them with the result being a 3-game sweep by the Dodgers.

The Mets, who came into Chavez Ravine on Monday with a half-game lead over the Phillies, now trail them by a full game after their fourth straight loss. The road trip beginning with three straight wins against the Giants seems a distant memory.

The Mets, 3 for 27 with runners in scoring position overall in the series, squandered an opportunity to take the lead in the top of the eighth after putting runners at second and third with one out. But this time it was Doghouse Daniel Murphy who grounded out weakly to first and Fernando Tatis bouncing a routine grounder to short. Murphy, who had played in left field the first 1 1/2 months this season, started at first base for the first time in his big league career.

Mets shortstop Jose Reyes was replaced by Ramon Martinez in the bottom of the third inning after aggravating a troublesome right calf that forced him to miss five games. I gotta admit: I really thought Reyes' injury was code for "he's not playing hard and we need to sit him to teach him a lesson". But I guess the injury really is legit.

And speaking of injuries: the Mets now face 3 tough games in Boston. This is gonna hurt!...