The improbable decline that began in the final days of August was completed Sunday when the formerly first-place team was sent home by a riled opponent and the Phillies beat the Nationals.

An unnerving 8-1 loss to the Marlins on Sunday, replete with a seven-run first inning against Tom Glavine, put a stain on the team that began the season as the favorite to the win National League East but lost 12 of its final 17 games and a seven-game lead in the process.

With an 88-74 record, the Mets finished one game behind the Phillies, proclaimed by their shortstop, Jimmy Rollins, as "the team to beat" last winter, and one game behind the Wild Card lead.

Glavine, the most seasoned and accomplished Mets starting pitcher, retired one of the nine batters he faced in the first inning. After he had allowed five hits and two walks, committed a throwing error and hit the opposing pitcher with the bases loaded, he walked off the Shea Stadium field, perhaps for the last time, escorted by loud booing and dashed hopes.

The Mets scored a run in the bottom of the inning against Dontrelle Willis -- they lost Carlos Delgado to a broken left hand when he was hit with a pitch during the inning -- but left eight runners on base in the first three innings and barely threatened the five Florida relievers who followed Willis. The Mets managed two hits in the last eight innings.

Their greatest threat came when Ramon Castro, starting in place of injured Paul Lo Duca, flied out to deep left with the bases loaded for the final out of the first.
Source:Mets.com