Giants end Mets' 9-game home winning streak

Jeff Francoeur summed it up quite nicely.

"It's like a circus out there."

He was talking about the wind, which may have decided yesterday's 6-5 Mets loss to the Giants, which ended their nine-game Citi Field winning streak.

Aaron Rowand's two-run homer off Jenrry Mejia (0-2) with one out in the eighth inning was the winning blow. It was a well-hit ball to rightfield that seemed to keep carrying over Francoeur's head until it landed on the roof of the Mets' bullpen.

The wind-aided homer ruined the Mets' very wind-aided comeback from an early 4-0 deficit, which was created almost entirely by the opening sideshow, Oliver Perez. He walked seven and threw 98 pitches in 31/3 innings, yet another poor start in less than ideal weather for the enigmatic lefthander.

Jerry Manuel said Perez, who threw only 44 of his 98 pitches for strikes, will remain in the rotation, but he added that the coaching staff needs to start considering all options.

"We will have to talk about it, but as I sit here right now, I don't see us making any changes," Manuel said. "As I sit here right now."

The circus didn't really end all day. After piecing his way through the game with four relievers and five substitutions, Manuel was out of position players in the ninth inning after David Wright was ejected for arguing a called third strike with Jason Bay on second.

Wright brought in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly in the seventh, one batter after Bay thought he'd gotten hold of a fastball from Sergio Romo on his drive to left, only to see the wind bring the ball back toward the infield.

Leftfielder Andres Torres was tied in knots and Bay's ball landed in front of him, bringing in two runs to tie it at 4. That erased a potential win for Giants righthander Tim Lincecum, who struck out eight but gave up seven hits in six innings.

As it happened, Manuel didn't have to think about a pitcher playing the field in extra innings. Closer Brian Wilson struck out Ike Davis and Francoeur to end it.

"They were strikes - they were just painted," said Davis, who slammed his bat after being caught looking. "I have to swing there."

Wilson struck out five in 12/3 innings, allowing only Bay to reach on a windblown pop-up that landed between shortstop Juan Uribe and Rowand in shallow center to begin the ninth.

Giants pitchers recorded 14 strikeouts. Mets pitchers issued 11 walks, including a costly one by Mejia right before Rowand's homer.

"It's bittersweet,'' Francoeur said. "We took two out of three from a good team, we were facing a great pitcher in Lincecum and we get it to 5-4 . . . It's tough."

Tougher still are the incredibly wild winds, which have been blowing debris and fly balls around Citi Field for two homestands now.

"It -- right now, to be honest," Francoeur said. "Aside from the first homestand, we've had some pretty crappy weather here."

But very good results. The Nationals come to town for three games starting tonight, and both teams are 17-14, two games behind the Phillies.

The Mets do hope the circus - wind, strikeouts and wild pitchers - does not stick around.