Same Old Story

Another game in Atlanta equaled another loss for the Mets. Monday it was at the hands of a familiar nemesis, Chipper Jones. Jones hit a two-run homer over the centerfield wall in the eighth inning to give the Braves a 4-2 victory. Since Turner Field opened, the Mets have gone 20-49 there and are 1-5 this year.

For a moment, it had looked like the Mets would change their fortunes when they tied the game in the eighth inning. David Wright, who is clearly the team MVP, walked and then advanced to third on a single by Doug Mientkiewicz. Ramon Castro then drove him home with a sacrifice fly.

But, it was not to be. After Jones put the Braves ahead, the Mets had one last shot in the ninth. Marlon Anderson led off the inning with a single, but Jose Reyes and Kaz Matsui couldn’t get the ball out of the infield to advance him. It was left to Carlos Beltran to save the Mets and as he has done far too often this year, he struck out in the big spot. Beltran was supposed to be the symbol of the “New Mets” but he and the rest of the team look a lot like the old Mets, especially when they go to Atlanta.

Photo by AP/Gregory Smith via ESPN