Knock 'em out with one shot

Game 23: Mets 1, Nationals 0
15-8 for the season

...for the rest of the night. Carlos Beltran can claim the line tonight, his solo homer having been one of only three hits for the Mets this afternoon in Washington, and the only that scored a run. the Nationals had six hits, but they weren't able to score against the Mets pitching staff today.

it was another pitchers battle for John Maine, who continues to pitch incredibly well. he went up to 4-0 tonight, and brought his ERA down to 1.35 with this start. he gave up only three hits and struck out eight in seven innings, and then Aaron Heilman, Scott Schoeneweis and Billy Wagner came in and gave up three hits between them to end the game with a shutout.

one could argue that the bullpen owed one to the fielders, and perhaps that's true, but for the last five games or so the Mets are not having good at-bats, much less hitting (unless the Met in question is Carlos Beltran). that's an issue that needs to be addressed, but in the end, this was a sweet win.

notably, Willie Randolph did not walk the starting lineup card out to the meeting at home base today, presumably because the very poor-sighted Tony Randazzo was calling the balls and strikes today.