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Homestand could save or doom Mets season – Metro US

Homestand could save or doom Mets season

It was a few hours before the conclusion of the first half and Jeff Francoeur was looking ahead to the Mets final West Coast road trip of the season following the All-Star Break.

“We have 11 games to start the second half. It’s going to be tough. It’s going to be a grinder out there. We have to find a way to play [well],” the right fielder said prior to a 3-0 win over Atlanta. “We haven’t been the best road team, and if you put a bad road trip together, you put yourself behind the eight ball.”

The Mets did exactly that by hitting .196 and dropping nine of 11 to start the second half. The team’s playoff hopes and coaching staff jobs seem to be hanging in the balance with each passing day.

“It’s not good. At all. We have no one to blame but ourselves,” third baseman David Wright said.

The Mets (50-49) trail Atlanta by 71/2 games in the NL East and wild card-leading San Francisco by six games. They begin a six-game homestand tonight against St. Louis.

Searching for more power, the Mets, who are rank 24th with 78 homers, will call up Mike Hessman, the active leader in minor league home runs. The infielder will take the roster spot of catcher Rod Barajas, who was placed on the disabled list yesterday with a strained oblique.