The Mets were defeated by the Astros by a score of 6-4 this afternoon at Shea Stadium. LaTroy Hawkins got the win for the ‘Stros and Pedro Feliciano took the loss for the Mets. Jose Valverde closed it for his 33rd save of the year. The Mets and Phillies are now tied in the loss column in the NL East.

Starter Oliver Perez went 6.1 innings, allowing four runs, most notably a two run shot off the bat of Hunter Pence. Aaron Heilman relieved Perez in the 7th, and pulled a usual Heilman move. He went a third of an inning, allowing two hits, one inherited run to score, and got his only out on a play at the plate when Fernando Tatis threw out Geoff  Blum.

Carlos Beltran did some yardwork today, hitting two homers from the right side of the plate off noted Met killer Randy Wolf. They were only Beltran’s third and fourth homers from the right side of the dish this year.

Joe Smith Scott Schoeneweis and Luis Ayala combined on 2.1 innings of scoreless ball.

In the 10th, Feliciano allowed homers to the unusual suspects, Brad Ausmus and Darin Erstad to put the game out of reach.

On a day where the Astros were basically handing us the game by sitting their big slugger Lance Berkman, the Mets flopped and were not able to get the job done against the weaker part of the Astros lineup.

The last 15 Mets were retired in order. This is the second time the Astros pitching staff has retired more than 15 Mets in a row, the first spanned between the 1st and 2nd games, when Roy Oswalt and Brandon Backe retired 34 straight Mets.

The Mets look for the split tomorrow with Mike Pelfrey opposing Brian Moehler.