Your Monday morning dose of New York Mets and Major League Baseball news, notes, and links.
Meet the Mets
The Amazins' lineup whiffed just three times yesterday against Nationals pitching, but Zack Wheeler gave up a pair of two-RBI hits to Wilson Ramos. The result was a 6-3 Mets loss in the rubber game at Washington.
Recap Parade: Amazin' Avenue, MLB.com, ESPN NY, New York Times, Post, Daily News, The Star-Ledger
The Times' headline almost made the Mets' sloppy play worth it. "Slapdash!"
Before the game, Terry Collins got fired up about the fans' and media's criticism of his decision to not play Juan Lagares for a few days. With the young center fielder continuing to play elite defense, I think most fans would be fine with making Lagares a permanent starter and rotating the other schlubs around him.
Adam Rubin reports that Daniel Murphy has been getting a little too aggressive with his baserunning lately.
Around the NL East
The mothership dug up a terrific GIF of the Phillie Phanatic hitting his mother Phoebe in the face with a pitch.
Jimmy Rollins went back-to-back on home runs with Wil Nieves to pace the Phillies to an 8-3 win over the Reds.
The Braves were nearly swept by the Cardinals this weekend, but they overcame a one-run deficit in the ninth to salvage a win on Sunday. Jordan Schafer was walked by Trevor Rosenthal with the bases loaded to tie the game, and Carlos Martinez uncorked a wild pitch to give Atlanta the 6-5 win.
Marlins starter Jacob Turner allowed three runs in the first to propel the Giants to a 4-1 win and a split of the four-game series.
Gio Gonzalez is going on the disabled list for the first time in his career due to shoulder inflammation. The injury will reportedly not require surgery.
Around the Majors
Some more Nolan Arenado wizardry and an interference call against Seth Smith allowed the Rockies to turn a triple play during an 8-6 win over the Padres. Justin Morneau won it with a walk-off home run in the 10th inning, and you know my boy Dinger was psyched about it.
A pair of big flies off of Tampa Bay's David Price lifted Albert Pujols to 25th place on the all-time home run list. He's tied with former Met Eddie Murray with 504.
White Sox rookie sensation Jose Abreu had been limping around the basepaths for over a week, but Chicago finally decided to put him on the disabled list yesterday with ankle tendinitis.
The Sacramento River Cats of the Pacific Coast League have enjoyed great success as an affiliate of the Athletics, but they are nevertheless looking to switch over to being a Giants affiliate next season.
I like Bob Ryan as the grouchy, old-school guy on "Around the Horn," but his column on Sunday made him seem like just another aging stat-leery sportswriter.
Yesterday at AA
On this date in 2006, David Wright hit up Mariano Rivera for a walk-off single and the Mets defeated the Yankees 7-6.