TSTDIA: Mets 4 -- Pirates 0

Johan Santana absolutely dominated the lowly Pirates with a complete game three-hitter.

Sure, it was the Pirates, but that's a pretty pitching line any way you slice it.

TSTDIA: Mets 12 -- Nationals 0

A blowout, finally.

TSTDIA: Pirates 7 -- Mets 5

The bullpen blows another one.

TSTDIA: Marlins 8 -- Mets 2

Josh Johnson continued his dominance over the Mets, as the Marlins continued their dominance over Mike Pelfrey to spoil the Mets chance at a sweep.

TSTDIA: Mets 8 -- Marlins 6

Again, despite the pitching's best effort, the Mets squeaked out with a win thanks to home runs from Carlos Delgado and Daniel Murphy, his first career home run.

TSTDIA: Mets 3 -- Marlins 0

The story of tonight was Oliver Perez, who threw seven shutout innings, allowing only two hits and walking three, while striking out eight.

Aaron Heilman took the rest of the game into his own hands, throwing two perfect innings and striking out three to earn the save. David Wright and Carlos Delgado homered to tally for the Mets runs.

TSTDIA: Mets 5 -- Padres 3

Redemption.

On a day I was calling for David Wright to ride the pine, he hits his first career walk-off home run to salvage the series against the Padres.

After the bullpen blew a terrific start from Johan Santana, Wright went deep in the bottom of the ninth inning off of ex-Met Heath Bell. He crushed a two-out slider to deep left field, off the retired numbers sign to make a winner out of Aaron Heilman.

I only have one thing to say...

David, I'm so sorry.

TSTDIA: Padres 4 -- Mets 2

The Mets watched another winnable game slip by.

Pedro Martinez got off to a rough start, but settled down very nicely over the next 5 1-3 innings. Daniel Murphy had a nice night, going 3-4 with a triple, RBI, and a run scored, but it all went for naught.

TSTDIA: Mets 6 -- Padres 5

Despite Aaron Heilman's best efforts, the Mets pulled out a win against the Padres, mostly thanks to the bat of Fernando Tatis.

TSTDIA: Astros 4 -- Mets 0

More offensive wasted opportunities. Another loss. A sweep at the hands of the Astros. A 1-5 road trip. Mets could be three games out of first by the end of tonight.

What else is there to say?

TSTDIA: Astros 5 -- Mets 4

All you need to know is that Johan Santana pitched great and the bullpen absolutely imploded again.

I really feel bad for Johan. This must be his 243904809 no decision this season (a rough estimate).

And the Mets move back to third place.

TSTDIA: Marlins 7 -- Mets 5

Mike Pelfrey had a very rough fourth inning, surrendering five runs in his final inning. Joe Smith got touched up for a two run home run, that was eventually proven to be the winning runs. The Mets battled back in the ninth, getting the winning runs on base, but failed to plate them.

The Mets will fall out of first place with this loss as the Phillies beat the Nationals in their game. They are now 0.5 game out. This loss sealed the first time the Mets lost a series in July.

TSTDIA: Mets 4 -- Marlins 1

Pitching was the key tonight as the Mets got dominant performances from all three pitchers they had trot out to the mound tonight. Oliver Perez surrendered a run in the first inning, but settled down nicely, scattering five hits and three walks over six innings, while striking out five.

Aaron Heilman pitched for the first time in three days, throwing two scoreless innings, striking out four. Billy Wagner came in and closed it out, striking out two to save it for Perez.

The Mets remain in first place for another day.

TSTDIA: Marlins 7 -- Mets 3

This game seemed like no one really wanted to win. Each team benefited from some luck and some mistakes by the opposing team. Ultimately, the Marlins took advantage of a beleaguered bullpen, and won the game with a five run 8th inning.

TSTDIA: Mets 9 -- Cardinals 1

Johan Santana turned in his second stellar start in a row, not needing to hand the ball over in the ninth and ending up going the distance, allowing six hits one only one run. Santana was backed up by a 17 hit effort from the Mets, aided by home runs from David Wright, Fernando Tatis, and Ramon Castro. Johan helped his own cause, going 2-4 with an RBI and run scored.

Beautiful game all around. No faults at all.

TSTDIA: Cardinals 10 -- Mets 8

A valiant effort. The Mets battled back twice, but couldn't get ahead for good. Simply a great game. Very entertaining, I must say.

The Mets went 1-16 with RISP. It absolutely killed them. Still a fun game to watch with four home runs.

TSTDIA: Mets 3 -- Phillies 1

Carlos Delgado backed up a dominating effort from Oliver Perez with two RBI's in the bottom of the eighth inning to put the Mets over the Phillies and into first place all by their lonesome.

Welcome to first place, Mets fans.

TSTDIA: Mets 6 -- Phillies 3

And that's how you do it! Jose Reyes broke up the tie with a three run blast in the sixth. It was all backed up by seven strong innings by John Maine and a great bullpen performance by Joe Smith, Scott Schoeneweis, and the one and only Billy Wagner, who closed out the game 1-2-3 in the ninth.

And back into first...

TSTDIA: Phillies 8 -- Mets 6

Honestly, that was the most painful inning of baseball I've ever seen.

Truly awful.

TSTDIA: Mets 7 -- Reds 5

A tenth inning rally sparked by Robinson Cancel and helped out by some shotty play be the Reds helped the mets earn a split of the series.

The Mets move back into a tie for first with the Phillies, with the Marlins only one half game back.