| Page 2 of 2 < |
Nationals Have Mets In a Slumped Position
Felipe Lopez, right, Luis Ayala (56) and their teammates continue the celebration after the Nationals' three-game sweep over the barely first-place Mets.
(By Al Bello -- Getty Images)
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
The accomplishment was important enough that they are worth naming. Chris Schroder, Jonathan Albaladejo, Saul Rivera, Jon Rauch and Luis Ayala combined to allow two hits and no walks over the final four innings.
[an error occurred while processing this directive]"Can't say enough," Acta said. "That was the whole game right there."
Ayala was on only because, when the Nationals called down to get closer Chad Cordero to warm up, Cordero rose -- and promptly threw up in his glove. Save the jokes about how that's what the Mets were doing all week. This was a serious situation.
"It was kind of weird," Acta said.
Cordero said he hadn't felt bad all day. But when he rose to warm up, he felt something. Some vomit escaped. "I grabbed my glove," he said, "and everything else came out."
So Ayala entered instead. And with the dangerous part of the Mets' order up -- including Carlos Beltran, who homered twice against Bacsik way back when the Mets built the lead -- Ayala handled himself like a closer. In a tenuous 10-9 victory Tuesday, Cordero had failed to retire any of the three hitters he faced, and had to be bailed out by Rauch.
Not Ayala, who went 1-2-3 against Luis Castillo, David Wright and Beltran. With that, the boos rained down on the home team at Shea, and the Nationals' impact on this pennant race was secure.
"It's only going to get better," Church said. "We're going to Philly, and it's going to be crazy there. I can't wait."
