This Is Not A Recording: Mets 9, Giants 6

More of the same for the Giants, who basically took the worst of the first two games of the season and combined them in Game 3 -- poor starting pitching over come by good offense, followed by leaving in the starter too long, and bad relief pitching -- especially in the 9th -- plus an extra helping of bonehead managing to lose it.

This time it was the Unit getting the Giants in an early hole, 3-0 to Johan Santana. That would be enough most days, but the Giants fought back to tie it at 3-3. Johnson and the bullpen immediately gave it all back and more, allowing 4 runs in the top of the next inning. Down to Santana again, the Giants looked like toast. Again. But they came back. Again.

The Giants scored 3 to get within 7-6, and got the tying run on base to lead off the 8th. But their rally died when they made an out on the bases (their 3rd of the day) on a busted hit-and-run, which was just a terrible idea by Bochy. It was a 3-2 count, but Travis Ishikawa was at the plate -- a big-time strikeout threat -- and the not-too-speedy Juan Uribe was on base. After the Giants gave up their requisite 2 runs in the 9th, the game was over.

Unfortunately, his is becoming the status quo for the Giants -- doing just enough to give yourself a chance, but not enough to win. It was less than 100 hours ago, they were 4 games over .500, hadn't lost any of their last 9 series, and were going for the sweep against the poor, pathetic Nats to go 5 under for the first time since 1994. Now they are 18-18 and have to avoid their own sweep at the hands of the mighty Mets, who's middle of the order has feasted on Giants pitching. It's not just them, either: The Nats scored a lot of runs, even in their losses (7 each), so it's been all homestand so far. Suddenly, it's the offense which has become their only hope. Strange days, indeed.

TOMORROW: Matt Cain for the block.

The Blahs: Mets 7, Giants 4

The Giants had been playing well recently, but their series winning streak seemed more like an oddity than a barometer of their strength as a team. They've been a bit lucky play the Nats, and the Dodgers right after they lost Manny. Sure, they were playing well, but so many of those wins were predicated on infield hits and 1-run victories. That trend was bound to turn. A lull in momentum is inevitable in baseball no matter how good you are. When they lost to the Nats on the eve of the Mets visit for a 4-game series, I wondered if this might be the time. Tonight did nothing to quell those fears.

The Giants scored 2 runs in the 8th, tying the game with an improbable comeback. Well, improbable besides the fact that the "rally" was started by an infield hit (Fred Lewis, leading off the inning), and ended with an infield hit (Edgar Renteria drove in the tying run, but appeared to injure his hammy legging out the hit*). But Brian Wilson continued to struggle in non-save opportunities, surrendering 3 runs to Mets in the 9th, allowing them to ice the game.

TOMORROW: The Giants need a win if they plan to at least split this series with New York -- remember, Johan Santana is scheduled to pitch over the weekend. The Good News: The Giants have ace Tim Lincecum taking the hill tomorrow. The Bad News: They'll face Livan Hernandez. I know, Livo is not so good anymore, and comes in with a 5+ ERA, but he's exactly the kind of pitcher who dominates the Giants, and it's the kind of thing that would drive me up the wall. So it's bound to happen.

* The way he left the field, I could easily see Renteria going on the disabled list, so you better get used to Juan Uribe at SS for while.