Quick Recap: Cardinals 5, Mets 4, Umpires -1 — Almost A Comeback

Facing one of the best lineups in baseball, Collin McHugh struggled in his second big league start. The 25-year-old pitcher allowed four runs on six hits in four innings, striking out two and walking none. Manny Acosta took over in the fifth and put together two scoreless innings to keep the game within reach.

Kelly Shoppach hit a two-run home run in the seventh, but Robert Carson and Bobby Parnell combined to allow a run in the bottom of the inning. Daniel Murphy hit a two-run Blue Collar Blast in the eighth to get the Mets within a run again, and Parnell and Josh Edgin combined for a scoreless bottom half.

In the ninth, Andres Torres appeared to lead off with a double against Cardinals closer Jason Motte, who had entered the game for two outs in the eighth, but St. Louis appealed at first base and Torres was ruled out for missing the bag. The slow-motion replay wasn't crystal clear, but it sure looked like Torres clipped the corner of the bag with his heel. After that, only Ruben Tejada reached base before the Mets lost.

We knew it was over when...

Torres was called out on the appeal.

What else?

• Of course the game turned on an appeal at first base. Of course.

Game Thread Roll Call

Nice job by MetsFan4Decades; her effort in the game thread embiggens us all.