Finally.

Sheesh. Oliver Perez. My patience isn't what others' is. This guy just drives me nuts. He just can't stand having the lead, can he? Each time he gave up a home run, the Mets tacked on a run to extend the lead. So he decided to take decisive action and surrender a 3-run homer just to see how his teammates like them apples. Well...

That 3-run bomb made it 5-4 Florida in the 6th. Once the Mets failed to score in the bottom of the 6th that was it. Right? 1-19 on the year when trailing after 6. And against Florida's bullpen you knew they were done when you realize that they have Gibson, Koufax, Carlton & Rivera to finish up. What? Oh. You mean Waechter, Pinto, Lindstrom & Gregg and others are not the same quality as those first four? Then there was no reason for pessimism, but still I was feeling it. A run or two was hardly an impossibility, but to me it seemed less likely than the impossible.

We knew going into the season that they didn't have the offensive firepower of previous years and with Church & Alou out, well the pitching has to step up. And the bullpen was excellent. Great inning by Schoenweiss. Fantastic 8th & 9th by Heilman. 2nd excellent outing in a row. (Imagine if he gets his act together ...) Wagner was strong in the 10th. Then Sanchez. He was doing fine - 5 straight outs - until he decided to make Amezega angry with some chin music and Amezega took him deep.

And that was it. 6-5 Florida and the Mets have lost 20 of 21. Right? That pessimisim again.

But, what's this? Bottom of the 12th, Wright walks, Beltran singles with Wright running and one out later Fernando Tatis doubles home the tying and winning runs. Fernando Tatis. And just like that the Mets are 2 & 19 in games they've trailed after 6.

This was a great win. I just hope it means something.

*****

Interesting that Randolph didn't use Delgado to pinch hit for either Easley or Tatis. I agreed with Willie's decision because I'm simply sick of Delgado. Still, it was interesting. And, I'll admit I was glad it was Easley hitting in the 12th rather than Delgado. But, Easley did the one thing he couldn't do in that situation - strike out. Even a ground ball double play would have tied the game. Water under the bridge...

How many times has Beltran hit a line drive right at someone in a big moment late in the game? Aren't those supposed to even out at some point during the season? Again, in the 8th, he lined out hard to 3rd.

Using a pitcher as a pinch-runner: Last night after Delgado walked Howie thought the Mets should have used a pitcher to run for Delgado. I wasn't keen because with one out I don't want a pitcher trying to break-up a double play or whatever. When Delgado got to 2nd with two outs I was a little more relaxed when Willie put Maine in, although I didn't want to imagine Maine trying to bowl the catcher over on a play at the plate. In the end, it didn't matter.

After Perez's 4th inning walk to Helms Castro started out to the mound. Wayne said he thought he was going to walk or jog really out to the mound. Howie: "It's the same thing. Walk or jog with Castro". Wayne: "That's true. They should have the pitcher come to him".