Mets even Series with 12-5 bludgeoning of Cards

The New York Lumber Co. made a much-needed appearance as the Mets slug 4 HRs in rout

Mets 12-5

Series: tied at 2
WP:Perez
LP: Thompson
HRs: STL:Eckstein, Molina, Edmonds: NYM: Beltran(2), Wright, Delgado

WHAT HAPPENED
Call it the Carlos & Carlos Show. Or the Wright Brigade. How about the 'Queens Crushers', as a yang to the Bronx Bombers? Whatever you want to call them the New York Mets got right back into this NLCS by doing what many experts, and myself, thought they would do: outslug the Cards with their superior firepower.

It took 4 games but that finally happened as Carlos Beltran (2), Carlos Delgado and David Wright each went deep off of 4 St. Louis hurlers. The vaunted New York offense, which had been averaging under 3runs/game finally had the breakout game everyone was waiting for, especially the Two Carlos'. Beltran continued his single-handed demolition of the Cards with his 2 HR performance; he has 7 HRs against St. Louis in 11 NLCS games against them. I'd say it's about time to give the Pujols/Papi treatment to this guy and walk him in every situation lest he beat your behinds yet again. I mean can any St. Louis pitcher, past or present, get this guy out? Why not bring in Bruce Sutter, Bob Gibson or John Tudor to try and stop this maniac?

The Cards actually jumped out to a 1-run lead against Mets starter Oliver Perez (5.2, 9H, 5R, 3HRs) but that was quickly erased by Beltran's first homer and one out later Wright followed with his homer, his first hit of the series. After the Cards tied it in the 3rd, Delgado (2-4, 5RBIs) untied it with a massive 3-run bomb off of reliever Brad Thompson, who had just come on for starter Anthony Reyes. That swing turned a tight tie game into a rout as it opened the floodgates for a 6-run outburst in the 6th inning that made it 12-3 before St. Louis tacked on a couple more to make it (somewhat) respectable.

So the Mets tied the series at 2, and with major rain scheduled for tonight might be able to have Tom Glavine back on his normal rest for Game 5 .It's now a short (3 game) series, and if the Mets bats stay red-hot, it could be a quick, bitter 3 games for St. Louis.

QUOTES: "When you have good hitters like we do, you're not going to hold us down too often." Mets manager Willie Randolph on his powerful lineup.

NOTES:
-Game 5 tonight has been cancelled due to rain and will be played Tuesday night at 8 on FOX. It is the second game of the NLCS to be postponed by rain; the first, Game 2, benefited St. Louis as it allowed them to use ace Chris Carpenter in Game 2 instead of Game 3. This time the precipitation favors the Mets as they will be able to use their ace, Tom Glavine, on his normal days rest instead of a day early. The flip side is he will not be able for a crucial Game 6 or 7 start, but the Mets can't look that far ahead now.
-Glavine(2-0, 0.00) will be opposed by Jeff Weaver (1-1, 1.69).
-There are questions about the health of Phat Albert's hammy. Suck it up son, it's the NLCS.