Mets Morning News: #BlameBeltran! No really, Blame Beltran

Meet the Mets

The Mets had a great opportunity in the ninth after a lead-off hustle double by Andres Torres, or did they? They apparently did not. Although replay seemed to indicate that Torres did touch first base, the rookie umpire covering first disagreed, and was very enthusiastic about punching Torres out after the Cardinals appealed. The source of the appeal was good ol' Carlos Beltran who saw the play on TV while hitting in the cage. BLAIM! TRAID! Anywho, at least Cardinals fans will stop complaining about Beltran's 'foul ball' during Santana's no-hitter now, right?

Mets and Cardinals clash again today as Matt Harvey takes the mound for New York in what will be one of his last starts of the season. Andy McCullough of the Star-Ledger has a profile on the moundsman who is learning to go "pitch to pitch" in the majors.

Jason Fry over at Fear and Faith in Flushing joins the call for robot umps plz.

Shockingly, Andy Martino doesn't understand that the #BlameBeltran meme has always been facetious.

MLB Dirt has an interview with Brandon Nimmo as he wraps up his first full professional season.

Around the NL East

Ross Detwiler, Stephen Strasburg's likely replacement in the Nats' playoff rotation, pitched seven shutout innings against the Cubs yesterday. Granted, it's the Cubs. Kris Medlen was even better for the Braves, striking out 12 Rockies as Atlanta cruised to a 6-1 victory.

The Reds could not avoid the Cloyd, as Tyler Cloyd picked up his first career MLB victory. The Phillies touched up Johnny Cueto for four runs in his seven innings of work, raising his ERA to 2.58 and keeping him from what would have been a league-leading 18th win. Your move, Cy Dickey.

The Marlins bounced back after getting swept by the Mets, chasing the suddenly mortal Mike Fiers in the fourth inning en route to a 7-3 win over Milwaukee.

Around MLB

Things are getting verrrrrry interesting in the AL East. The Yankees lost in Tampa, while Joe Saunders shut down the Blue Jays. The Orioles are now just one behind the Yankees, and the Rays just two and a half out. Can't wait* to hear Mike Francessa take the Yanks to task the same way he took the Mets. Yankees fans are taking it well at least.

*will probably be waiting a while

The Dodgers scored another walk-off win, but still can't gain any ground on the division-leading Giants who matched Los Angeles' theatrics.

The Pirates continue to fade out of the wild card race with a loss to the Astros, their fourth straight defeat.

The Angels finally cooled off the red hot A's, thanks in part to a strong game from Vernon Wells. Just the way they drew it up in April. No really, they actually drew it up that way. In less good news for the Halos, Jered Weaver might miss his next start with some shoulder tenderness.

Here's one from the "Things That Will Never Happen" file.

Finally, looks like the Japanese Player's Association has finally come to an agreement that will allow Japan to compete in next year's World Baseball Classic. You know what that means, slim chance we get to see Ichiro pitch!