NLCS Game 2: Mets lose to Cardinals, 9-6
October 13, 2006 
The Mets were 7 outs away from taking Game 2 at Shea Stadium tonight. But they lost to the Cardinals 9-6, after questionable decisions by Mets manager Willie Randolph.
Namely, leaving pitcher Guillermo Mota in the game way past the point where he lost track of the strike zone. Not to mention Billy Wagner, who came into the game and had a total meltdown, giving up the winning 3 runs in the ninth.
The Mets offensive practically gave the team the game — but only through the first 8 innings. Carlos Delgado tied a franchise record held by Rusty Staub in 1973, but hitting two homeruns that drove in 4 runs in total.
If only tonight’s game had only run 8 innings, instead of 9. The Cardinals were barely in it throughout the game, but the Mets ended up squandering 3-0, 4-2 and 6-4 leads. The Cards were essentially handed the game by playing well in one inning. Unfortunately for the Mets, that inning was the 9th.
This is NOT where the Mets wanted to be going into three games straight starting tomorrow at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. They can overcome tonight’s defeat, but winning the first two at home and making use of their homefield advantage would have been far preferential.
So now they need to take tomorrow morning to regroup and then go back to playing the baseball that got them where to the playoffs in the first place.
Incidentally, my night was not a total loss. I went over to watch the game at Jill’s and we had a blast. Despite a confusing lead-up to hanging out, we jumped in the Corolla to gather the ingredients for Jill’s famous cream cheese - salsa - cheese dip and also picked up some Ben & Jerry’s and soda along the way. Oh, and there was a special appearance by Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper.
And guess what. Jill makes an amazing dip. I mean it. Combined with my Tostitos and a couple Smirnoff’s I picked up earlier, we were all set to watch Jill’s first(!) baseball game. And she really enjoyed it, heh. I know this because guess what we’re doing tomorrow night around 8pm…
Fred came over, too, and it was awesome to watch the game with another devoted Mets fan, no matter how unfortunate the outcome.
So a Mets lost was saved by good company.
Not as good as a Game 2 win, but it will suffice until we win tomorrow night in St. Louis! LETS GO METS! LETS GO METS! LETS GO METS!
ALSO: Delgado’s big night all for naught, Wagner plans to shake off rough outing
