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Glavine's poor start seals historic collapse for Mets

Sep 30, 2007 - 10:09 PM By Doug Mittler PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- John Maine's no-hit bid on Saturday ended up as a one-day reprieve. The stunning collapse of the New York Mets resumed in a hurry Sunday when Tom Glavine could not get out of the first inning.

Cody Ross and Dan Uggla both had a two-run double in the opening frame as the Florida Marlins tagged Glavine for seven runs and went on to an 8-1 victory over the Mets.

New York was eliminated from the postseason just minutes later after Philadelphia Phillies closer Brett Myers struck out the Washington Nationals' Wily Mo Pena to cap a 6-1 victory.

The Mets (88-74) lost for the 12th time in 17 games, completing one of the most colossal collapses in major league history. New York finished a game behind Philadelphia in the National League East, as the Phillies (89-73) recorded their first division title since 1993.

"It's a tough life lesson in baseball," Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "It's stunning. You just have to pick yourself up and learn from the experience."

The Mets held a seven-game lead with 17 games left on September 12. No team with that big a lead with as many games left failed to finish in first place. New York also lost nine of its last 10 games at Shea Stadium.

"We did it to ourselves. (The Phillies) played better," said Wright, who finished the season with a 17-game hitting streak. "We were god awful. We had plenty of time to put the nail in the coffin."

After losing possession of the division lead on Friday, New York had moved back into a first-place tie Saturday when Maine did not allow a hit for 7 2/3 innings in a 13-0 win over Florida while the Phillies lost to the Nationals.

One day later, it was the Mets who endured the early beating.

"We're a team. We go down together," Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez said. "We (screwed) up as a team."

The Marlins (71-91) finished in last place in the NL East in their first season under manager Fredi Gonzalez, but closed the year by taking a combined five of six from the Chicago Cubs and Mets - two clubs fighting for playoff berths.

"It's a nice way to end the season," Gonzalez said. "I'm proud of the way our guys played."

Glavine (13-8) opened the game by walking Hanley Ramirez, who was erased on a force play. Jeremy Hermida singled and Miguel Cabrera drove in the opening run with a single to left field.

Ross sliced a double to right that brought home two runs. When the throw home got away from catcher Ramon Castro, Glavine picked it and threw the ball wildly past third base, allowing Ross to jog home with the fourth run for Florida.

"We were definitely pumped up after yesterday," Ross said of Saturday's rout that included a benches-clearing incident.

The Marlins quickly loaded the bases on a single to Mike Jacobs, a walk to Matt Treanor and a single by Alejandro De Aza. Glavine's brief day ended when he hit Willis on a 1-2 pitch to force in a run. Jorge Sosa relieved and allowed the double to Uggla to make it 7-0.

By recording just one out, Glavine endured the second shortest outing of his career. The two-time Cy Young Award winner lasted just four batters without retiring a batter for the Atlanta Braves against the Chicago Cubs on May 16, 1989. It also tied the most runs he has allowed in an inning.

"I'm disappointed. It's not the way I wanted to pitch," Glavine said. "I can't really say there is a whole lot I would have done differently. I got a couple of ground balls in the hole and a couple of bloopers that fell in."

It was the first time the Mets allowed seven runs in a first inning since July 31, 1999 at Chicago.

The Mets had plenty of early chances to get back into the game, leaving eight men on base in the first three innings with the only run in that span scoring on a wild pitch by Willis.

Castro flied out to the warning track off Willis to end the first and pinch hitter Paul Lo Duca grounded out off Logan Kensing (3-0) on a check swing with the bases loaded to end the third.

"We didn't deserve to win," Lo Duca said. "This is going to hurt for a while."

Willis was lifted after allowing one run, walking five and hitting a batter in 2 2/3 innings. The lefthander plunked Carlos Delgado in the first, breaking the left hand of the Mets' first baseman.

Kensing, the first of five Marlins relievers, earned the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings. New York had just two base runners over the final seven innings.

De Aza made it 8-1 with an RBI double in the fifth.