Now that's good baseball. Two fantastic pitchers duke it out over seven innings and it takes a late home run from Jeff Francoeur for the Mets to grab the 1-0 win.  Francisco Rodriguez came in for the 5 out save and fairly easy work of the Phillies from there.  Cole Hamels and Johan Santana allowed a combined 11 hits and if it wasn't for Francoeur's bomb they would've matched scoreless frames.  Neither team managed a single hit with runners in scoring position the entire game.  It was a tremendous pitching effort from both sides and it's a shame that Hamels got tagged with the loss for it.

"Unfortunately, one bad pitch decided the game," Hamels said. "It was a change-up and he went out and got it."

There weren't many highlights otherwise because the pitching stifled all offense and scoring chances.  From the game notes it says Shane Victorino might begin rehab assignments next week, we could really use the guy.

In the eighth inning of a 2-1 game, the Phillies finally broke through and put up six runs to take the lead and the game. Jon Niese and Joe Blanton battled like Santana and Halladay, each throwing a great seven innings.  Blanton left in line with the loss, but Chad Durbin ended up getting the win after Bobby Parnell and the Mets bullpen imploded.  Let's look at the stat lines of the eighth inning:

and the scoring summary:

	8th	B Francisco singled to center, M Sweeney scored, J Werth to second.	2	2
	8th	C Ruiz singled to center, J Werth scored, B Francisco to second.	2	3
	8th	R Gload walked, B Francisco scored, C Ruiz to third, W Valdez to second.	2	4
	8th	J Rollins singled to left, C Ruiz scored, W Valdez to third, R Gload to second.	2	5
	8th	P Polanco hit sacrifice fly to center, W Valdez scored.	2	6
	8th	M Sweeney singled to center, R Gload scored, J Rollins to third.	2	7

And that's really all there is to know about this one.  Beating the Mets makes me happier than just about anything else in the sports world so obviously this was a great one.  Let them get anxious and excited for a win, then sweep the rug out from under them with a good old fashioned bullpen beat-down.  Good times.

Of course the Phillies bullpen nearly blew it themselves, but that's neither here nor there.  Brad Lidge came in and shut the door, who figured that he of all people would stop the bleeding?

As if Mets v. Phillies wasn't fun enough, here's some quotes from Adam Martino regarding the two teams:

This is what characterizes the Phillies of this era, and what separates them from the Mets:

Swagger. Arrogance. Condescension toward opponents.

Woah there partner, where did that come from?  The Phillies and Mets really haven't had to many problems this year.  That was a cheap shot!  Don't mistake our confidence for arrogance.

Then it keeps rolling, and there is talk that the Mets and Phillies are basically the same team, but...

It all adds up to a "(expletive) you" edge that the Mets lack. From the general manager to the coaching staff to the star players to Chris Carter and Jesus Feliciano, they are almost all nice people. Maybe too nice.

So the Phillies have been winning with dirtbags and sleezeballs?  Ridiculous.  Okay, that's not his point, but it's a tough rap regardless.

The collective personalities of both clubs are clear, and in direct contrast with one another. Wounded by divisional collapses in 2007 and 2008, the Mets lack a cocky culture of winning. This weekend, they will field a team comparable in talent to the Phillies, and filled with people you might rather have dinner with. And, sadly for the Mets, that is part of their problem.

Before I can respond to this, let's defer to a man smarter than I, Craig Calcaterra:

At the heart of this article -- like so many other article analyzing the Mets' recent failures -- is a fallacy: that the Mets are as talented as the Phillies have been over the past few years.  They're simply not.

The Phillies have not gone into any season over the past three years with the kinds of black holes in the lineup like the Mets have had in right field and second base or the kinds of nearly season-long injuries like those to Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes last year (and into this year). At the same time, the Mets don't have a single pitcher close to Roy Halladay's quality (sorry Johan) or a position player as good as Chase Utley (sorry David Wright).  Add in the fact that their manager can't hold a candle to Charlie Manuel and the notion that all that separates these two teams is likability or swagger is laughable in the extreme.

It's a comforting idea I suppose -- we'd win if only we weren't so nice! -- but it's hogwash.  Baseball rewards intensity and emotional demeanor less so than any other sport. The games are too long. The season is too long. Calm calculation is just too important.  Attitude can only take you so far.

Ultimately, winning baseball is about talent and execution.  The Mets could fill a wagon with swagger and it wouldn't do them a damn bit of good. Because the Phillies are just better.

I apologize to Craig for stealing his entire thought, but it was too refreshing not to.  If you don't read his regular stuff at Hardball Talk you are a fool, because he is the best out there. The Phillies are winning 1-0 as we speak, Mets suck.

There's no better time to make or break your season than beating your least favorite team in the league.  The Mets got their three-game-shutout-sweep in May, but I'm expected a vastly different outcome this time around.  7:35p game time and it's Niese v. Blanton.  Mets come in needed to make up serious ground and the Phillies come in attempting to gain even further on the Braves and on the wild card.

The Phillies did a great job of putting themselves in a position to win last night's game.  From there, the gave the game away at every chance and only the umps could give them the additional life they didn't deserve.  The ninth inning was truly a shit-show for the Phillies.  They squandered the bases loaded with 0 outs by making three consecutive outs, on the basepaths!  How the hell is that possible?

Then the Phillies self-destructed on the basepaths. Ibanez was caught off third on a grounder and tagged out, Werth was picked off second and Domonic Brown was thrown out trying to steal second.

Then in the bottom of the ninth the Marlins knocked the game-winning hit down the 3rd base line.  It was clearly fair, but the umpire blew the call and gave the Phillies that new life.  In the 10th they put together the go-ahead run they needed and got the win on a Carlos Ruiz home run.

Ibanez and Werth continued their strong play with RBI's apiece and teaming up to tie the game in the top of the 10th.

Justin “Tito” Dellow is the Founder/Editor of the fantasy baseball website, Fantasy 40/40. Be sure to visit his site for great fantasy insight and the ever-important music, women, and pop culture thrown in to keep you in good spirits, even if your fantasy team is garbage.

“How long?”  That’s the first question I asked myself this morning.

I asked this because of yesterday’s poor performance where the New York Mets lost to the Atlanta Braves, 8-3.  A night after they came back on former closer, Billy Wagner, with an inspiring homerun from former Brave, Jeff Francoeur.  Thrilled.  Excited.  Giddy.  The Mets were saying the right things after an important victory.  Like a team ready to move forward and take the next step.  And then? NO AND THEN! And then? And then Wednesday night happened.

And that’s the story with these Mets – Jeckyl and Hyde – gritty and tough on one day and flat the next.  I watch these inconsistent Mets, year in and year out, at least, 140 out of 162 games a year.  Every inning.  Every game.  For at least the last 18 to 20 yrs.  I continue, like most of you reading this, to support my favorite team in my favorite sport, through thick and thin.  But, how much longer can I take this?  Can we take this?

How long will Mets’ fans continue to put themselves through the heartbreak and pain every baseball season?  Heilman’s change-up to Molina.  Tom Glavine, The Marlins, the bullpen and collapses two years in a row.  The entire team spending time in the nurse’s office last season.  Every year there’s another excuse.  How long?

The second question I asked myself was, “Are these Mets really a serious contender?”

This “core group”, this team won the NL East and almost made the World Series four years ago.  Four years ago kids.  Big deal.  Yet, fans expect greatness like they’ve done it or have won something before.

Wednesday’s game was a night where most knew the importance and impact a victory could have for the team.  For their confidence, morale and chemistry moving forward.

The importance and impact on the standings.  To move a game closer to the division-leading Braves, closer to the rival Phillies and win a crucial rubber game on the road.

The importance and impact in a game with possible ramifications that could help push the Mets into the NL East race and make them relevant again.  The Mets needed energetic, lively and inspiring team play.  Instead, they came out not concentrating, lifeless and imprecise.

"You gotta go out and win the games - the wins won't come to you." - Ron Darling

I'm glad a former Met gets that, because it seems as if this current group is not playing the crisp, clean baseball that is necessary at this point in the year.  I have no idea why it seems as if the Mets are not playing with the sense of urgency their fans feel so acutely, but there has been a subtle shift in the way the team is playing (and it's not good).  As the Mets head into Philadelphia for a critical weekend series, Darling's words keep replaying themselves in my head.  After a terrible showing in the rubber game against Atlanta on Wednesday, the Mets need to regroup and find their stride.  Despite the injuries to Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino, the Phillies have kept pace with the rest of the league and the wild card race... and I think it's time for that to come to an end.

This was the stretch of games we looked to at the beginning of the year that would make or break the Mets' season.  Even now, things look promising:  we're throwing Jon Niese, Johan Santana, and RA Dickey out against Joe Blanton, Cole Hamels, and Roy Halladay respectively.  The thing is, none of that will matter if the offense doesn't start stringing together hits and being productive with runners in scoring position.  Or if the defense can't hold itself together - that last game in Atlanta was a nightmare and had Keith Hernandez seething in the booth.  And I love that he was that frustrated with the team, because he sounded like a fan at that point and he's saying all the things we wish we could say to the guys making those errors.  If I want to watch 4 routine ground balls turn into errors in one game, I'll go see my town's Little League team play.

I'll be stranded without a computer for the next few days, so the chances of being able to update during this series are slim.  However, if the Mets can put together a complete ball game (pitching, defense, AND offense, not just one of the three) we have a chance to take two of three this weekend.  I want the Mets to pull through and stop thowing in the towel when there is still a third of the season to play.  Give us something to believe in again.

The Braves got a win yesterday, but the Phillies answered with one of their own to keep the race at 2 games.  I'm laying on a beach in NC so abbreviated game notes for you:

• Domonic Brown had 3 RBIs, matching his current career total and added nice defensive play on a catch in the gap and a outfield assist at the plate gunning down a runner before scoring.
• Raul Ibanez also drove in two.  His hit streak is up to twelve games.
• Kyle Kendrick threw 6 strong and had the Phillies only extra base hit of the day -- a double.
• The rain delay seemed to affect Marlins starter Anibal Sanchez who struggled early.

The Phillies now sit 2.5 out of the Wild Card as well.  Today is another good chance to gain ground as the Braves see Tim Lincecum who has more career wins against the Brave than any other team.

Throwing Roy Halladay is a recipe for success, it's a wonder how he ever lost eight games in his career, let alone this year.  The Doc went seven allowing one run on five hits and striking out nine.  The lone run came off a Dan Uggla home run early in the game, but that was the end of the threats.  Chad Durbin finished out the last two innings allowing a few hits, but no runs.

Minus Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino, Chase Utley and co. the team still found a way to win.  Only Jayson Werth didn't have a hit for the Phillies.  Roy Halladay even had a two-rbi double which doubles his career RBI total to 4!  Ben Francisco and Chuuch supplied the power and 6 runs was all the Phillies would need to cruise to victory.

The Braves lead has been shrunk to two games and the wild card is 3.5.  For those wondering at home, the Mets are 6.5 out of the division, but the Phillies appreciate all help they can offer by beating the Braves.

That ankle does need some healing, From ESPN:

Howard is the 15th Phillies player to go on the disabled list this season. Shane Victorinoand Chase Utley are also sidelined now, leaving the two-time defending NL champions without a big chunk of their offense as they try catch first-place Atlanta in the East.

When asked what kind of challenge the Phillies face in Howard's absence, manager Charlie Manuel said: "It's a big one. ... We've only had our starting lineup six or seven games since the season started. We've got to get well, and we've got to keep going."

The move involving Howard was retroactive to Monday. John Mayberry Jr. was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and will join the team Wednesday.

You know I love Jumanji (the best John Mayberry Jr. nickname ever) in my life.  Losing Ryan is a tough one and the team is going to have to manufacture runs anyway it can in his absence.