Met Misery
Wednesday nights contest between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies [ended on a wild play] and resulted in a loss for the Mets. Yesterday afternoon, the two teams participated in an even crazier game, but the final result remained unchanged: the [Phillies won 11-10](http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270830122&action=playvideo&hcmp=motion) and swept the Mets in the pivotal four-game series, slicing New Yorks seemingly insurmountable [six-game division lead](http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/standings) to just two.
Philadelphia opened up a 5-0 lead early, chasing Mets ace Orlando Hernandez from the game in just three innings after he surrendered five runs and six hits in that short span. But New York rallied to tie the game at 8-8 when Endy Chavez (pictured) delivered a two-run bases-loaded single, and the Blue and Orange took a 9-8 lead when Jose Reyes scored on a throwing error by Philadelphia catcher Carlos Ruiz. After extending their lead to 10-8, manager Willie Randolph called on closer Billy Wagner to get the final six outs. Unfortunately, Wagner could only get four.
The flame-throwing lefty gave up a homer to Pat Burrell in the bottom of the eighth to close the gap to 10-9, and then surrendered back-to-back run-scoring singles in the ninth to Tad Iguchi and Chase Utley to lose the game. Philadelphias bench erupted in euphoria and the fans chanted Sweep! Sweep! Sweep!
Wagner didnt make any excuses. I felt fresh. I was fine, he said. I was trying to make pitches and I was unable to make them. Thats been happening quite a bit lately to the southpaw. It was his second consecutive blown save. The Mets [try to right the ship tonight ]when they face Atlanta at 7:35 p.m.