Cliff Floyd sealed up a well pitched game by Steve Trachsel in the 8th inning, with a long towering home run that landed in McCovey Cove. Cliff's blast put the Mets up 4-1 and lead them to victory. It was only the 12th time a visiting player had splashed one into the cove, but the second time Cliff had.

Steve Trachsel allowed 1 run off just 3 hits and continues his solid start. Trax gave Bonds his second homer of the year but other than that, he cruised. Jamey Wright (2-1) allowed three straight base hits to start the
game, including an RBI single by Paul Lo Duca. He then proceeded to retire 15 of the next 17 batters he faced.

Xavier Nady hit a home run just over the outstretched glove of Barry
Bonds in the 7th to pull the Mets ahead by 1 run, making it 2-1.

The Filthy One, Duaner Sanchez, extended his scoreless innings streak to 12. He has yet to allow a run this season in 9 appearances. Billy Wagner pitched a perfect 9th for his 5th save of the season. He entered in a visiting stadium to the sounds of Enter Sandman, which also happens to be the Giants 9th inning rally song.

Last nights comeback win by the Mets came courtesy of the oldest living man to hit a home run in the history of major league baseball. Julio Franco is not only Carlos Beltran's personal advisor, he's also a the Mets savior. The Mets were down 3-2 in the 8th inning when Julio kicked off the Mets offensive explosion. Julio blasted a 2 run shot on the right field porch, with Xavier Nady on board on a double. Julio passed Jack Quinn,
who was 46 years, 357 days old when he homered on June 27, 1930.

The Mets had already set another record earlier in the game, when Kaz Matsui hit a home run in his first at bat in his third consecutive season, and to make it even more thrilling, it was an inside the park job. The
last player to do that was Ken Griffey Jr. from 1997-99, while with
Seattle.

On returning to the lineup, Matsui had this to say…

After Franco's homer, Carlos Delgado hit a two-run shot, his sixth, and the Mets scored two more with RBI singles by Endy Chavez and Cliff
Floyd.

Jake Peavy was hit on the right shin by a comebacker by Trachsel in
the third but stayed in the game. Peavy struck out five in seven
innings, allowing four hits and one run. Trachsel allowed two runs
and six hits in six innings, struck out three and walked two.

Duaner Sanchez picked up the win, inducing the Padres to hit into a inning ending double play. The dirty one has yet to allow a run this season. The double play came off of a thrilling diving catch by David Wright, coming off his worst defensive performance of his career, who turned quickly and threw a bullet to Matsui who rifled off the ball to Delgado to complete the highlight clip. Matsui looked fearless for once as the slide came in at second, a promising sign for Mets fans who had been championing his replacement, Anderson Hernandez for possessing the effortlessness that Matsui seemed to lack in the field. The double play energized the Mets dugout.

“It was really rockin' then,” manager Willie Randolph said.

Carlos Beltran returned to the lineup after missing
the last four games with a strained right hamstring, but felt
discomfort and left the game after the fourth inning. He said he'll
have an MRI on Friday. Cliff Floyd played for the first time since
leaving Monday's game against Atlanta with a strained rib cage.

200th win for our ace Pedro Martinez.

First place, 5 games over the Atlanta Braves

Best team in baseball.

Some might say we're getting ahead of ourselves, I say we're getting ahead early and already starting to pull away. There may be 150 games left to play, but the Mets sure have made a statement to the entire league that they are a force to be respected and feared.

Every fan could sense the change in the air. Tonight was only round one of 18, but it was like a shift in the universe. We would no longer be second to anyone, and Pedro would make you understand, this is when everything changes.

The Braves drew first blood in the opening inning, Andruw Jones hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Marcus Giles, but the X factor would quickly even things up with a solo shot in the 2nd. Nady's homer was his third in four days.

Atlanta shot back in the 3rd, Langerhans singled to left center and Giles scored his second run of the game, giving Atlanta back the lead.

They would not have much time to breath, with Paulie “The Duke” Lo Duca, going 3-3, getting on base in the bottom of the inning and then driven home by the Big Cato, Carlos Delgato, who blasted a long home run off the scoreboard in right center, his third in five days and second consecutive day. Delgado owns Sosa, 14-for-27 (.519) lifetime against with seven
homers and 14 RBI. Delgado is riding an 11 game hitting streak.

Nady continued his huge night, passing Wright in batting with a .400 average, stroking another single in the 4th to drive in Floyd who left the game with a strained muscle in
his rib cage. He is listed as day-to-day (aren't we all). “It's not as bad as I thought it was going to be,” said Floyd,
who hopes to try to play Tuesday night. “I'm not really looking
forward to missing any games, especially with Carlos out. … I was
a little bit more scared than anything because I did it last year,
too.”

Duaner “Dirty” Sanchez carried the Mets again through the 7th and 8th, struck out two of his four batters, and Wagner closed it out for his 4th save.

The Duke put it all in perspective….

Martinez (3-0) struck out eight in 6 2-3 innings, allowing three
runs and six hits. He left to a loud ovation and waved his arms to
the crowd of 36,867, 13,000 of them who walked up and bought tickets today. The three-time Cy Young Award winner is
200-84, the fewest losses for any of the 103 pitchers with 200
wins.

The Mets are making history with their performance, their 5 game lead makes them the first team in big league history to build a cushion that big after
12 games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

And soon enough, the Braves too, will be history.

Here's to new beginnings.

Brian Bannister is a magician. Game after game, he seems to get himself into dangerous situations, and like the great houdini, he makes his great escape. For his first trick, in the second, Bannister struck out two batters and got another to fly out after loading the bases with no outs.

''My approach is I don't give in,'' Bannister said. ''I'll walk guys before I'll give them a pitch they can drive. I'll keep
making my pitches all day.''

In the bottom of the inning, Xavier Nady hit a 2 run homer with David Wright on off a single.

For his second trick, Bannister took care of the heart of the Brewers order with the bases loaded and one out in the very next inning. He struck out a Prince by the name of Fielder, and got Carlos Lee to line out to right. His performance was not yet complete. Despite allowing two doubles, he escaped the 4th inning only letting a run score. Nady then knocked in his second RBI of the game, a sacrifice again with Wright on board who reached on a double.

Bannister was able to make the 5th uneventful, allowing just a walk. In the bottom of the inning, Lo Duca singled home Reyes who slapped a base hit ahead of him and advanced to second on a stolen base, his 5th of the season. Delgado left Lo Duca stranded at third, after he stole his first base of the season, striking out.

Darren Oliver came in to relieve Bannister in the 6th, allowing Corey Hart of “I Wear My Sunglasses At Night” fame, a hit and a stolen base. After Delgado threw the ball away to Reyes, Hart advanced to third. Geoff Jenkins stepped to the plate and cracked a home run to bring the Brewers within 1 run, making it 4-3 Mets. Chad Bradford came in and was able to get Carlos Lee to ground out and end the threat.

Heilman did a nice job, retiring the Brewers in the 7th and 8th. The Mets put the game out of reach in the 8th, scoring 5 runs. Jorge De La Rosa came in and immediately got into trouble, walking Reyes and Lo Duca, Delgado then crushed a 3 run homer off the mezzanine in right, making it 7-3 Mets and extending his 10 game hitting streak. Julio Franco walked and Nady singled, and Endy Chavez walked to load the bases. Anderson Hernandez grounded out to the pitcher to took the force out at home, then Victor Diaz slapped a double to left to score Nady and Chavez to stick a fork in the Brew Crew and win the Mets another series.

Willie Randolph, either testing Met fans patience or trying to improve a player's morale, threw Jorge Julio in the game with a nice lead to close it out. Julio allowed a double to Bill E. Hall but then struck out Prince Fielder and got Damien Miller to fly out to send the 38,119 fans home happy on a beautiful Easter afternoon.

The Mets improved to 9-2, their best start in franchise history. They also set a franchise record by winning their first four series of the season. Next up, a bunch of upstarts looking to unseat the first place Mets. A team by way of Atlanta, I believe they're called the Braves.

Tom Glavine was simply outstanding tonight, striking out 11 and leaving the game with a 1.50 ERA for his 277th win, 2-0 for the season. Glavine came out guns blazing early, retiring the side in the first on 11 pitches,
10 strikes, striking out two.

Aaron Heilman's first shaky appearance nearly cost the Mets this one, but he got by with a little help from his filthy friend as the Mets pulled out a 4-3 win over the scrappy hipster's choice, Milwaukee Brewers. Duaner Sanchez continues to shine out of the pen, getting the Mets out of a major jam and getting the ball to Billy Wagner who shut the Brew Crew.

Xavier Nady got the Mets started in the 2nd with a solo shot to left. In the third, Capuano was more concerned about Reyes stealing second than focusing on Lo Duca. Capuano led the majors with 12 pickoffs last season. He threw three times
to first base, but Reyes challenged him. After throwing over three times, Capuano ran the count to 3-1. Lo
Duca then slapped a double down the left-field line, and Reyes came flying home. Beltran walked, and then Delgado knocked in Lo Duca in with a single. David Wright then struck out for the first time this season, in his 34th at bat. The Brewers got on the board in the 5th off a single by Hardy, scoring Capuano who moved to second on an error by Diaz who looked very shaky in left.

In the 5th, Reyes reached on a fielders choice and later scored off a strange play where Delgado grounded out and Lo Duca tried to score, but was called out for running out of the baseline and around the catcher.

Glavine was pulled in the 7th after going over 100 pitches. Heilman came in and was ineffective, putting 2 on and then throwing a wild pitch that scored a run. He then walked Brady Clark to load the bases at which point Willie had seen enough. Duaner Sanchez came in and got Hardy to ground out, Jenkins then hit a sac fly, but Sanchez escaped further trouble by intentionally walking Carlos Lee and got Bill E. Hall to ground out. He struck out Prince Fielder and Corey Koskie in the 8th to get the ball to Wagner in the 9th who was perfect for his third save of the season.

The Mets cement their lead as the best team in baseball with a 8-1 win over a very good Milwaukee Brewer team. The Mets have won 7 straight, their longest streak since 2002.

The Mets unloaded early and often on the defenseless Nationals. Cliff Floyd showed signs of breaking out, going 2 for 5, driving in 2 runs and scoring one himself. With 2 outs in the first inning, Beltran, Wright and Floyd each went yard, Wright's a two run shot with Delgado on board off a single. Beltran's was another tape measure style bomb to right. The beatings continued as Nats morale did not improve, Delgado joined the hit parade in the 3rd with a dinger of his own, a two run shot. The Nats finally got on the board in the 4th, off a single by Zimmerman, that scored Vidro and Nick Johnson.

Victor Zambrano (1-0) allowed three runs in five innings in his
first start of the season for the Mets, who've won six straight
games. Zambrano was the first Mets starter not to go at least six innings
this year. Reliever Darren
Oliver pitched two perfect innings, striking out four, and hit a two-run single in the seventh, after Ramon Castro was intentionally walked.

Livan Hernandez allowed
eight runs — seven earned — on 11 hits, including the four homers,
over six innings. His ERA rose to 7.00. New York's 4-5-6 hitters, Delgado, Wright and Floyd, went a
combined 7-for-9 with six RBI

The Mets finished with 16 hits. They scored five runs when they sent
10 men to the plate in the seventh. The Mets hit three homers in an inning for
the first time since April 19, 2005, at Philadelphia, when Mike
Piazza, Doug Mientkiewicz and Victor Diaz did it in the third.

Pedro Martinez looked a lot more like the one the Mets were accustomed to tonight, pitching brilliantly, tossing very few pitches through the first 5 innings. Pedro gave up just 1 run, off a Vidro home run in the 4th, and 3 hits. He walked just one and struck out 3. Aaron Heilman bridged the way from Pedro to Billy Wagner, taking care of the Nats without giving up a run. Wagner came in and showed his velocity climbing, reaching 99 on the gun. Wagner retired the side to pick up his second save of the season.

Anderson Hernandez made a superb play in the bottom of the 6th to get the Mets out of a bases loaded, no out, jam. In the turning point of the game, Anderson turned two. He stood his ground at second as the runner came barreling in, making a nice turn, threw to first while jumping in the air and splitting his legs to get the double play.

David Wright continued his superlative start, going 2-for-4 with a double and a triple and
a run scored to raise his average to .444. I am quickly running out of adjectives to describe how incredibly productive he is. Wright hit his triple in the forth, Cliff Floyd drove Wright home on the next at bat off an infield single. As expected, Beltran had a great night with 7 putouts in center, including a spectacular diving catch and another one he made look easy against the wall in left center. His bat continues to heat up, his average raised to .292. Beltran slapped a single in the 5th and scored running full throttle off a Delgado double. Beltran added an insurance run in the 7th, hitting a sacrifice fly to bring home Reyes who hit a double, that could have been a triple but Reyes slowed down thinking the ball would be caught.

The Mets look to sweep the series tomorrow, with Victor Zambrano making his first start of the year facing the Nats ace Livan Hernandez. The Mets are the only team in baseball that have had every starter on their team pitch 6 innings or more in every start this season. The Mets have only trailed at the end of two innings so far this season: 10th inning of Game 2 and the 6th inning of Sunday's game.

Brian Bannister is showing everyone that spring was no abberation. Granted, the Nationals are not a world class organization, but they're major leaguers with some decent bats that include Soriano, Zimmerman, Vidro, and the sweetest swing in baseball, Nick Johnson. They're no humps, and Bannister has mowed them down twice in less than a week. They've had the benefit to see Bannister pitch, and he fooled them regardless. It will be interesting to see how Brian fares against a stacked lineup like St Louis.

Bannister was cruising with a 2 hit shutout until the 7th. Bannister's only blemish was a barely fair dinger by Soriano in that inning. Bannister got out of the inning with only that run being scored and Heilman came in and made quick work of the Nats in the 8th, leading the way to give Wagner a chance to exercise his arm. It seems Willie wants to get Wagner some work despite the large lead because of his shortened spring, allowing him a perfect opportunity to gain some innings to work out the kinks.

The bats were alive today as well. Wright continues his torrid pace in the 4th with a double to bring home Beltran who singled ahead of him, thats 10 RBI's for “The Franchise,” folks. At least 1 in every game. Floyd hit a sac fly to bring home Delgado who had singled and advanced to third on Wright's double. 2-0 Mets.

The Mets scored 2 more in the 5th when Anderson Hernandez reached on an infield single, moved to second on Bannister's sac fly, and scored on Reyes' single. Reyes then scored off a smoking double by Lo Duca. 4-0 Mets.

Bannister helped his own cause and showed he is nice with the bat as well, hitting a double in the 7th inning and then scored off a trademark triple by Reyes putting the Mets up 5-0.

In the top of the 9th, Carlos Beltran hit an absolute bomb to right field. The monster is out of the cage folks. A two run blast with Lo Duca on base off a single. 7-1 Mets. Bannister earns his first win, and earns even more respect for an already impressive start.

The Mets sweep the short 2 game series with the minor league Marlins, but the difference this time was the Mets had a tough assignment against Dontrelle Willis who has dominated them since entering the league and today was no different up until a key at bat by Paul Lo Duca in the seventh inning.

Dontrelle had been cruising until a tough fought at bat by Duke, an 11 pitch sequence where he wore down Dontrelle and then gets a base hit to right. Beltran then came up and fought off a series of pitches and then snuck a hit through the shortstop. Delgado grounded out, moving the runners to second and third. David Wright then came to the plate and continued his nack for hitting from behind the count, on a 1-2 count Wright smacked a triple to right field to tie the game at 2. Wright is the first player in Met history to start the season with an RBI in the season's first five games, a total of 9 RBIs in 5 games.

Wagner came in and shut the Marlins down after Reyes overthrew a ball to Delgado for his second error of the game and of the year. D Wright was responsible for all 3 runs, hitting the sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning, following Beltran's walk and Delgado's big hit to right to move Beltran over to third.

Glavine was pitching well until the 6th, when he intentionally walked Cabrera, and then gave up a double to score 2 runs. Overall it was a quality start by Glavine giving up only 5 hits and 2 runs, striking out 5 through six innings. Duaner Sanchez continues to fool batters with his nasty change up, pitching 2 strong no hit innings, striking out 2. Sanchez is proving to be a valuable tool along with Aaron Heilman, possibly the best 1-2 combo for middle relief in the NL.

The Mets extend their record to 4-1 and head to Washington to take on the Nats in D.C.

Random Notes: Former Giants linebacker Harry Carson, in full Mets gear, threw out the first pitch of the game. Carson is a good friend of Glavine and a
Hall of Famer-designate. Carson
came to know Glavine and Ozzie Smith during a Sports Illustrated
cruise. He attended Smith's induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame,
and he said he would like to be there if Glavine is inducted. The Mets
play on Aug. 5, the day Carson is to be inducted.