'Brain-dead' Mets shut out by Astros

Cancel makes bad decision on basepaths, Evans misplays fly ball as Mets stagger to fifth loss in six BY DAVID LENNON | david.lennon@newsday.com HOUSTON - "Brain-dead." That's the phrase manager Jerry Manuel used to describe Robinson Cancel's ill-advised attempt to steal third base yesterday in the third inning with two outs, two on and David Wright at the plate. Cancel, however, was not alone. The Mets fielded an entire squad of zombies who once again barely dented Astros starter Randy Wolf. One of the few who showed any flicker of EKG activity was, surprisingly, Oliver Perez, who was victimized by a very costly stumble on the part of Nick Evans. Top-paid players See a list of the The rookie leftfielder's misplay of Darin Erstad's sinking liner with two outs in the fourth led to a pair of gift runs and effectively sealed the... [read full story]