Marlins 8, Mets 7 (10 innings): Taking a three-run lead into the bottom of the ninth against the Marlins should be no problem right? Not when Billy Wagner is mysteriously absent -- the Mets later said he was having back spasms -- and his replacements are the not-so-capable Pedro Feliciano and the highly inflammable Jorge Sosa. They combined to cough up the lead in the bottom of the ninth, ruining a dramatic comeback posted by the Mets in the top of the inning. Then Sosa gave up the winning run all by himself in the 10th. Why is Sosa in there? Because everyone else stinks or had been used, frankly. After seeing the right-hander struggle so frequently of late, Manager Willie Randolph still didn't look for another option.
So what could make this loss to a last-place team with cheerleaders worse? A Phillies win in Washington. The Mets' lead in the National League East is now down to 1 1/2 games again. If they make the playoffs, they'll have as good a shot as any team -- let's not forget how poorly the Cardinals and Tigers played in September last year -- but they aren't covering themselves in glory right now.
