Nationals slam Mets, 5-2!

With Johan Santana, the Mets ace on the mound against former Met Livan Hernandez it seemed like the Mets were going to win on paper.

That's why they decide the game between the lines.

This game was over for all intent and purposes right in the first inning.

Nyjer Morgan lead off the game with a triple for the Nationals. It went downhill from that point on.

Yesterday's hero Willy Taveras followed with a base on balls putting runners on first and third.

After second baseman Cristian Guzman grounded out, the cleanup hitter, Adam Dunn walked as well to load the bases.

Former Marlin and notorious Met killer Josh Willingham came to the dish to get his shot at Santana.

He made the most of it by hitting an apparent home run that went over the orange line on the center field fence.

Last year it would have been a live ball.

For some unknown reason the umpires didn't rule it a home run right away.

After Nationals manager, Jim Riggleman came out to argue.

The four blind umpires huddled together and decided to go into the clubhouse to look at the replay.

Please note the replay rule went into effect last season.

After a few minutes they reappeared, after further review it was ruled a home run.

Since the bases were loaded, it was a Grand Slam. Just like that, the Mets were down 4 runs before they even had a chance to swing the bat.

Santana proceeded to get the next two Nats out to end the horrible top of the first inning.

In the third inning, Josh Willingham did more damage when he drove in a run with a double.

Livan Hernandez pitched 7 shutout innings allowing just 5 hits.

In the eighth inning, former Yankee Brian Bruney came on to pitch. With a man on who he walked and 2 outs, first baseman Mike Jacobs broke the the shutout when he blasted a 2 run home run off the facade of the Pepsi Porch which hangs over the field in right.

That's all the offense the Mets could muster against the Nats' bullpen.

Unlike yesterday, their closer Matt Capps came on and got the Mets 1,2,3 in the ninth to earn his 3rd save and second in as many days.

The only exciting part of this game was early when Mr. Met, the team mascot, came into our section and he started throwing t-shirts into the stands as you can see in the picture above.

The Mets after a dreadful 2-4 homestand, go on the road to play the Colorado Rockies in Denver and then they head to St. Louis, the Gateway to the West before they return home on Monday, April 19 when they host the Chicago Cubs.

This has the potential to be a rough week.

Hopefully the change of scenery doew them some good.