As the inning begins: Check out the official UCB Progressive Game Blog post for all the innings up to this point. A quick summary: the score is 3-0 Mets. R.A. Dickey has thrown 64 pitches through six innings and given up five hits to the Cardinals. Victor Marte came on in relief of Lance Lynn to get the final out of the fifth and gave up one hit while getting three outs in the sixth.

Cardinals fans are, understandably, restless and wanting some action. And we are hoping for something exciting to write about.

Top of the seventh: The few boos signify that Carlos Beltran is up, and he did have the Cards first hit of the game. (And, yes, we know, it was his second double in two days but the only one that counted to the umps.) The Mets fans have nothing to worry about here — he grounds out to second baseman Daniel Murphy. One out.

David Freese is next. Hey, did you know R.A. Dickey throws a knuckleball? If you’re watching Fox Sports Midwest, of course you do! Because Dan McLaughlin has mentioned it on every other pitch he’s thrown all day — so more than 30 times so far. Freese flies out to Lucas Duda for the second out.

More boos, which can only mean one thing: Yadier Molina is up. Personally, I love that they still boo him, almost six years after his game-winning homer in the final game of the 2006 NLCS. Keep it up, Mets fans. Grudges are good. Yadi hits the first pitch from Dickey to shortstop Omar Quintanilla, who makes a terrific diving stop on the grass and throws out the not-too-speedy Yadi. “This play sums up the Mets’ weekend so far,” said McLaughlin. “Everything is going the Mets’ way.”

For once, I have no complaint about something Danny Mac said.

Bottom of the seventh: Marte is back out to the mound for the Cards, and Duda quickly singles to center. Murphy is up next, and he doubles to left. So, with those two on and no outs, that’s it for Victor. And into the game, with three straight lefties coming up for the Mets is … righty Eduardo Sanchez. But he’s been effective in his last three outings, not allowing a hit. And he strikes out Ike Davis for the first out.

Next is an intentional walk to Quintanilla to load the bases and bring up catcher Josh Thole. He hits a grounder to Tyler Greene at second base. TG scoops it up and throws home for the force out. Yay! A smart play for Tyler! Two outs.

That brings Dickey to the plate. And just about exactly when Al Hrabosky finished saying “with the pitcher coming up, you should be able to get out of it without any damage,” Sanchez unleashed a wild pitch to make it 4-0 Mets.

Yep. This is how things are right now.

Of course Dickey grounded out to end the inning — because, with the pitcher up, you should be able to get out of it.

And then came the moment that summed up just how things are going for the Cardinals lately. Because whichever one of them screamed “F- -K!” as he ran off the field had it exactly right.


Christine Coleman is the senior St. Louis Cardinals reporter for Aaron Miles’ Fastball. Follow her on Twitter, @CColeman802, or email aaronmilesfastball@gmail.com. Also follow @AMilesFastball for the latest updates.