Mets Fail to Score Double-Digits, Lose

The Mets were never going to score 13 runs a game (their average in their previous four games) forever . Tigers ace Justin Verlander brought them down to earth on Thursday, snapping the Mets four-game winning streak, beating them 5-2.

The Mets did manage ten more hits, including two from Jose Reyes (below, getting thrown out on a stolen base attempt in the third). At the exact midpoint of the season, Reyes has 121 hits and is batting .352. He leads the league in those categories as well as runs, doubles (tied) and triples. What more can you say?

Daniel Murphy also had two hits (his fourth straight multiple hit game) and is batting .302 — good for 12th in the league.

Mike Pelfrey had another disappointing outing. He allowed five runs (four earned), walked five, and couldn’t even make it through the fifth inning. It was his second consecutive start where he gave up an early lead and didn’t give the Mets the chance to win.

In any case, this was a very good road trip. They won four out of six, taking two series from AL division leaders. They take on the other division leader, those damned Yankees, this weekend.

So at the halfway point the Mets are at 41-40, which seems about right. The Mets are a .500 team, plain and simple. As we’ve seen lately, they do show some flashes of brilliance that could keep them in contention for the Wild Card. A couple of more runs like that and hey, you never know.