Live Blog: Mets Try To Stay Alive, Brewers & Phillies Hopefully Eat It

1:54 - On the Mets lineup graphic, we see that David Wright is 9-for-17 with a homer and 6 RBIs on this homestand...yet he's the one getting blasted in the media for not being clutch?? We're getting close to the point where talk radio and local newspapers will be banned from my ears and eyes. Meanwhile, Jose Reyes singles off Ricky Nolasco and immediately steals second.

1:56 - Carlos Beltran rips a single to right but Reyes is smartly held at third. Delgado brings him home with a sac fly though. Need at least 2 this inning. Not for Johan, necessarily. For the bullpen come the 7th.

2:01 - After David Wright singles, Hanley Ramirez makes a diving stop on a grounder by Daniel Murphy. Amazing how a consistently apathetic defensive player suddenly gives a crap.

2:04 - Somehow, a dude named Ramon Martinez is playing second base for the Mets. Hey, it beats having Luis Castillo out there. I'd take Edgardo Alfonzo at this point. Anyway, he flies out to right. Mets 1-0 after one.

2:09 - Johan gets em 1-2-3, including 2 Ks. Changeup is naughty right now.

2:14 - Poor Ryan Church flails at shoud've-been-ball-four and strikes out. My buddy Will thinks his head still isn't right, and he's probably right. Too bad.

2:16 - Trying to hit one in Mo Vaughn territory, Johan strikes out to end the second.

2:22 - Another 1-2-3 inning with 2 more Ks. Double the fun for me - Johan's on my fantasy team and I entered the day 2 points out of first. I'm coming for you Sandser.

2:26 - As the rain starts to come down, Nolasco strikes out Reyes. Looking like the Mets had their chance in the first inning.

2:29 - Delgado not even close on a slider inside. 1-0 Mets after three. Rain is coming down. A long delay here would be bad bad bad.

2:35 - Wright makes a nasty play on a ball down the line. Gold glove, anyone?

2:39 - You know that old cliche about making a great defensive play and then leading off the next inning with a hit? Yeah, screw that. Wright goes down looking.

2:45 - Ramon Martinez! Double to the gap! And incredibly, Murphy scores from first despite running like he's wearing penny loafers. 2-0 Mets. This is like the 5th second baseman they've used this season, and in three of the past four games, he's come up with a big hit. Amazing.

2:51 - Santana tries to jack one but grounds out to end the inning.

2:56 - Wes Helms takes Santana to the wall, as Beltran nonchalantly leaps against the fence to make the catch. The 5th inning is too early to start getting nervous.

2:59 - Nervous. Santana walks Jeremy Hermida after having him 1-2. Two men on, one out.

3:01 - Nolasco bunts the runners over. Santana intentionally walks Ramirez, smartly.

3:04 - Jesus this is too much. John Baker swings way late on a two-strike pitch and misses slapping a double down the line by a couple of feet. Then Church changes direction three times on a fly ball before squeezing it for the third out. 2-0 Mets, middle of the 5th.

3:06 - My roommate just texted me, hoping that the skies open up now that it's an official game. I'd only take that if you could guarantee they'd call the game. Don't need a two-hour break and lose Johan for the day.

3:13 - Alright, this is getting a little ridiculous. Ramirez just made a diving play up the middle and threw out Delgado from his butt. No runs for the Mets in the 5th.

3:17 - Easy inning for Johan. Needed that one. 88 pitches through 6 - not terrible.

3:27 - No Ramon Martinez magic this time. Nolasco makes him look silly on a deuce. By the way, if I told you that in late September, the best Martinez on the Mets was Ramon and not Pedro, what would you say?

3:29 - Yuk. Hat-trick for Church. 10 Ks for Nolasco now.

3:33 - Another 1-2-3 inning for Johan, but more importantly, only needed 9 pitches to do it. 97 for the game. he have 2 more in him? I say he better.

3:38 - Johan staying in the game as he comes up to bat. Good thing, too. Would've been a revolt at Shea if Marlon Anderson's music started playing.

3:43 - Ramirez grounds to Reyes for the second out. Keep the quick out coming.

3:44 - Cool moment: the crowd is on its feet chanting "Jo-han! Jo-han!" with 2 outs (and there aren't even 2 strikes. Fitting that he gets Baker looking for the third out. I'll save the praise because hopefully he's coming back out for the 9th.

3:49 - The ESPN Sunday Night crew would've describe the last play something like this:
Jon Miller: And Carlos Bel-TRAN lines a single to right, uh, left.
Joe Morgan: He's consistent.

3:53 - After the Mets make the third out, Johan puts his hat on and trots out to the mound. You think Mets fans would denounce their fandom if Luis Ayala appeared from the bullpen?

3:55 - Meanwhile, in Milwaukee, Ben Sheets is starting for the Brewers. He might be good for a 3rd inning hangnail. He might also be good for eight scoreless.

3:56 - Santana Ks Jorge Cantu! One out.

3:57 - Uh oh. Josh Willingham almost put one through the left field wall for a double. Dan Uggla the batter. Heart is pounding a bit.

3:58 - Nasty. Three straight filthy changeups and Uggla goes down. Two out.

4:00 - Another sick changeup and it's 0-2 on Ross. Cue John Kreese: "Finish him!"

4:01 - Holler at yo boy...Darryl Ward crushes a homer off Sheets. 2-0 Cubbies in the 1st.

4:02 - Woooooooooo!!! Almost threw up in my mouth, as Ross hits one to the wall in left. But Endy Chavez is there. Mets win! Johan 3-hit shutout on 3 days rest. He tips his hat. The fans aren't leaving. These are fragment sentences. Who cares? More in a minute after I go splash some water on my face.

4:09 - Ted Lilly drops a deuce on Ryan Braun to end the 1st inning. 2-0 Cubs.

4:15 - Lilly again! Rips a ground rule double to right, although that might end up costing the Cubs a run.

4:17 - Yeah that was predictable. Fukudome flies out to end the inning.

4:18 - Meanwhile, 0-0 in Philadelphia in the 2nd inning.

4:26 - Efficient start for Lilly: 21 of his first 25 pitches have been strikes. And yeah, I might develop a new man-crush if he can win this game.

4:37 - Over in Philly, Jamie Moyer and his 58-mph fastball are scoreless through three innings.

4:39 - Cubs have the bases loaded, one out in the 3rd. Sheets is strugg-ell-ing.

4:40 - Bam! Mark Fontenotb lines a single to right. 4-0 Cubs and Sheets is gone - his earliest outing that wasn't disrupted by a groin or hammy or finger or foot or shoulder or elbow or blister or quad.

4:43 - Back in Philly, Jimmy Rollins doubles. Philly fans love him again. He still thinks they're posers.

4:45 - Huge play by Rickie Weeks stopping a grounder from going into center. That would've scored a run. But now Lilly is up with the bases loaded and you just don't want to be facing Ted Lilly with the bases loaded...

4:47 - I was half-kidding, but Lilly missed a grand slam by three inches before lining out to right. Man-crush, indeed.

4:48 - Rollins gets stranded at second, and it's 0-0 through three in Philly.

4:49 - Lastings Milledge up for the Nationals. Friendly reminder that one year ago, Milledge was hamming it up after a home run and pissing off the Marlins bench, so much so that they decided to show up and pummel the Mets the next day and knock them out of the playoffs. Did I mention that I'm glad they traded him?

4:55 - Back to Johan real quick...how many local columnists are currently writing a piece that includes something to the effect of "This is why they got him. This is why Omar spent all that money. For games like this. For moments like this."

4:56 - In all seriousness, that was just a tremendous, ballsy game he pitched. 117 pitches only 3 days after throwing 125. Reminds me of my high school pitching days. You know, the number of pitches in a short amount of time - not the part about throwing a 3-hit shutout. And how about Johan for the Cy Young? All the crusty old voters see that he won't have that many wins (16-7), but that's only because of a dreadul bullpen. But a 2.53 ERA (best in the majors), 206 Ks (5th in the majors), hasn't lost since June 28th, and hasn't allowed more than 3 ER in a game since his first start after the All-Star break. Lincecum has been phenomenal and Webb was good (until those pivotal games with the Dodgers a few weeks ago when he gave up 8 and 7 runs respectively and puked away the division) and CC was awesome, but Johan gets my vote-if-I-had-a-vote.

4:58 - Damn. Pat The Bat Burrell knocks in a run. Phillies up 1-0. Now they've got the bases loaded.

5:02 - Another sac fly, Phillies lead 2-0. Philadelphia Phillies: 2008 NL East champs.

5:03 - That's what's called desperate reverse jinxology.

5:06 - See, it worked. Rollins grounds out with the bases loaded to end the inning.

5:14 - Former Mets getting it done! Anderson Hernandez doubles in a run as Jayson Werth almost makes a great catch. 2-1 Phils.

5:19 - No, we haven't forgotten about the Cubs-Brewers. 4-0 Cubbies, middle of the 5th.

5:20 - Werth hits a bomb to right. 3-1 Phillies. Cue my inner Clay Davis: Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

5:27 - We're through 5 in Milwaukee, and let's just say that the Cubs players will stop talk to Ted Lilly in between innings.

5:32 - Since it's already been made clear that we dislike him, Milledge gets lucky on a bunt single. Two on, no outs for the Nats in the 6th.

5:38 - Somehow Moyer squeaks out of trouble. Unreal.

5:39 - No perfect game for Lilly - he walks Mike Cameron.

5:43 - Hooooo-ah! Lilly K to end the inning. Teammates still won't talk to him.

5:51 - Booooo. Braun breaks up the no-no with a double.

5:53 - Prince Fielder hits a mile-high pop to right-center that somehow drops in. Lilly is pulled, and Lou Piniella is not a happy guy.

5:56 - Now pitching for the Cubs, Carlos Marmol, his filthy slider, and his open cab door ears. JJ Hardy hits a sac fly, Brewers on the board.

5:59 - Over in Philly, the bad guys are 6 outs away from a second straight division title.

6:01 - Marmol gets through the inning. Cubbies lead 4-1 through 7.

6:04 - Ryan Zimmerman doubles off the wall - tying run on second base, no outs in the 8th. Now I need to root for Milledge to get a hit. Or for a couple wild pitches.

6:06 - Great over-the-shoulder catch by Rollins, who crashes into Shane Victorino. Run scores on the play, while Victorino gives us his beautiful rendition of a soccer player before getting up and jogging back to his position.

6:14 - With the fans waving towels, Ryan Madsen strikes out Aaron Boone to end the inning. The champagne is on ice. This one is in the bag. You hear me? There's NO WAY the Nats can win.

6:20 - Trouble in Milwaukee. Two on, one out in the bottom of the 8th. Craig Counsell, Mets killer, is up.

6:23 - Naturally, he singles in a run. Now Braun is up. Can't take this.

6:25 - F. Braun gets hit by the pitch. Great job by Jason Marquis here. He's out, Fielder coming up.

6:26 - Things keep getting better. The Phillies add an insurance run, now up 4-2.

6:28 - %#@#(*#@*!!!! Fielder's pop-up falls in AGAIN! 4-3 Cubs, bases still loaded, 1 out. I just barfed on the keyboard.

6:30 - Brad Lidge Ks someone for the first out in the 9th in Philly. At this point, I don't care who it was.

6:32 - Huge out in Milwaukee - they get a force at home. 2 outs, bases juiced, Corey Hart up.

6:33 - Whew. Another ground out. Cubbies somehow still leading. Me, somehow still breathing.

6:34 - Somehow, two men on in Philly. Lidge implosion perhaps??

6:38 - Fukudome! Home run! I take back everything bad I've ever said about him! 6-3 Cubs!

6:38 - Base hit, Christian Guzman! Bases loaded, 1 out!!

6:40 - Unreal. Rollins makes a diving play up the middle, starts a double play. Phillies win the division. No blown saves this year from Lidge. F.

6:45 - Good job by the Phillies. Blah.

6:50 - Cubbies with another hit, now lead 7-3.

6:58 - Alright, alright, we'll take it. Cubs 7, Brewers 3. Mets and Brewers tied for the wild card. Oliver Perez tomorrow for the Mets, CC Sabathia for the Brewers. If they're tied after tomorrow, sounds like Pedro would pitch a playoff game. But let's get there first. And what happens if the Mets lose tomorrow? Do they still have the postgame Shea celebration? Could only happen to the Mets. Until tomorrow...adios.