Sweating Bullets: Mets 4, Marlins 1

Nice win for the Mets, even if it wasn't a terribly exciting game for anyone. Scott Olsen was sweating buckets early on to the point that I was actually uncomfortable watching it (thanks for nothing, SNYHD!). He was mercifully pulled before the ground crew had to be called out to add that super-absorbent sand to the pitching mound that they usually reserve for after rain delays.

Oliver Perez was solid but unspectacular, though it's hard to complain when your starter goes six innings and allows just a run. Aaron Heilman pitched the seventh and the eighth, and after shaking off some rust/Joe West's ridiculous strike zone, was mostly dominant in a couple of innings of work.

Carlos Delgado went deep -- yes, again -- and I'm sure is hoping that July never flips to August considering how hot he's been this month. Carlos Beltran had the biggest hit of the game, driving in the go-ahead run in the sixth. If he weren't so darned un-clutch he would've done it in the ninth inning, but I guess the Tron-haters will have to take what they can get.

Unfortunately, the Nationals are utterly pathetic (except against the Mets), and managed just a run against Brett Myers and the Phillies, so the Mets remain a half-game in front. If it's any consolation, the Braves lost and drop to 8.5 games back.

Big winners: Oliver Perez, +27.7% WPA, Aaron Heilman, +16.5% WPA
Big losers: Damion Easley, -13/0% WPA, Ramon Castro, -6.3% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Beltran RBI single in sixth, +16.0% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Willingham RBI double in first, -10.1% WPA
Total pitcher WPA: +48.6%
Total batter WPA: +0.4%

Game Thread Roll Call

Nice job by BobbyV_Incognito; his effort in the game thread embiggens us all.