Euphoria Extinguished
The Mets celebrated like obese Belgian children at a chocolate store last night as David Wright rounded the bases. The New York third baseman had just delivered a game-tying, three-run home run that completed a gritty comeback against the [NL-powerhouse San Diego] Padres. The Mets, down 4-0 through six innings, came roaring back to knot the game at 4-4 in the eighth.
But just a half inning later, reliever Joe Smith allowed a two-on, two-out single to Geoff Blum that scored the go-ahead run for the Padres, and suddenly the giddy Mets dugout looked like a funeral parlor. After being removed from the game, Smith dawdled off the mound, head down, and slowly made his way toward the dugout. The Mets couldnt muster a run in the ninth, and [lost 5-4].
The defeat handed the series to the Padres, who took two out of three games from New York, despite [Lastings Milledges prediction] prior to the series that the Mets would run away with NL East after beating up on the woeful Cincinnati Reds. Luckily for Milledge, the second-place Atlanta Braves suck even more than the Mets do right now, as Atlanta got swept by those same Reds this weekend. Subsequently, the Mets actually picked up one game on their division rival. Things dont get any easier for New York, however, as they [head to Los Angeles](http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/preview?gameId=270719119) tonight for a showdown against the NL-leading Dodgers.