Sunday's blown save by Ayala in a 7-4 loss to the Braves was the 27th blown save by the Mets bullpen this season. The Mets have seven losses when leading after eight innings this season -- hardly automatic victory.

Once Wagner was lost through the 2009 season and underwent Tommy John surgery, Ayala essentially shed the "interim" from his closer title. Ayala was acquired from the Nationals in mid-August.

Now, if interim manager Jerry Manuel does go back to experimenting with other closers, former Rays reliever Brian Stokes could be next in line for a try.

There aren't many other options. Pedro Feliciano and Joe Smith are generally considered lefty and righty specialists, respectively. And Aaron Heilman has been nursing tendinitis in his left knee that's limited him to just two appearances this month.

BRAVES 7, METS 4: Luis Ayala served up a pinch-hit, three-run home run to Greg Norton for his second blown save since joining the Mets as Atlanta rallied for the victory with a five-run ninth inning. David Wright slugged two home runs, and Oliver Perez limited the Braves to two runs in seven innings in the rubber game. Sidearm reliever Joe Smith inherited two runners from Scott Schoeneweis in the eighth inning with one out and struck out Omar Infante and Jeff Francoeur to preserve a 4-2 lead that Ayala was unable to hold.