NY Mets at Twins. Twins 3, Mets 2. (15 Innings)

I had this whole treatise written in the top of the ninth about how it's okay to lose this game, how we shouldn't worry, how nobody's hitting against Mets pitcher Matt Ginter lately, how it was the butt-end of a series we'd already won—we have the head and torso; they can have the freakin' butt.

And then, with two outs in the ninth inning, Matt LeCroy hit a single. Gardy had Jose Offerman pinch hit for Henry Blanco, and Offerman launched a beautiful double to center. That's when Matthew LeCroy started running like he's never run before. Mets centerfielder Mike Cameron, who isn't having the best of years, sent the ball sailing past 4 or 5 cut-off people, and LeCroy chugged around the bases, mouthing, "I think I can, I think I can…" while his arms pumped and his jowls flapped and his little heart went pitter patter—he huffed and he puffed and he rounded third and ran his chubby way home. I thought I could!

Tie game.

It's been a long time since I've had to completely rewrite a game recap in the bottom of the ninth, and I'm never happier to do more work. It's seemed like ages since we've had an extra inning game, too—I've been feeling so calm and well-rested. The BatKitties don't know me anymore.

This was another well-pitched game on both sides, though this time the Mets starter outpitched ours. Not that Lohse was at all bad; he gave up a run in the 1st, then a run in the 3rd—then retired nine straight. He ended up with two runs over seven complete innings, which makes three great fab-oo starts in a row for our pitchers. (A lot better than the previous rotational meme of Rad, Sucking, Sucking, Sucking, Sucking, Rad…) Meanwhile, we could do nothing against Matt Ginter—who was kind enough to wait until he was traded from the Bitch Sox on March 27th to start being a good pitcher. Thank you, Matt Ginter!

Then it came time for the bullpens, and, may I say, our four remaining BULLPEN IDOL contestants performed beautifully. (Obviously, BULLPEN IDOL is a great motivating force; we'll have a new round next week, so pay attention to the relievers, my BatLings.) Nathan, Fultz, Roa, and Rincon combined for six no-hit innings, until Roa finally wearied in the 14th. Can you blame him? I was pretty weary in the 14th, too.

Alas, the Mets bullpen was just as good, from recent call-up Ricky Bottalico to the geriatric John "Take on Me" Franco. Actually, they were better—the Mets threatened in the 14th and 15th; and, with a runner on second, Torii Hunter saved the game there with an over-the-shoulder catch that poor goggle-eyed Jason Phillips still doesn't believe was possible. (No matter how hard you slam down your helmet, sweetie, it's still not going to be a hit.) But the Twins remained pretty unthreatening for most of those extra innings.

Then, in the 15th, Luis Rivas made up for some boneheaded baserunning in the 12th by legging out an infield hit with one out. Guzie, then hit a long single—and then Mike Ryan, who utterly and totally failed to execute a ninth inning bunt on Monday—hit a single for the game winning hit. There was much hugging, on the field, and in the BatQuarters. And now, there will be sleeping.