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GAME LOG
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The New York Mets thought they were acquiring
an ace when they traded for Mike Hampton. On Tuesday, he reminded
them they were right.
Hampton allowed six hits in 8 1/3 innings to lead the slumping
Mets over the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-0.
|  | | Mike Hampton struck out eight and walked only one in 8 1/3 innings Tuesday. |
"It's nice to win," he said. "It's nice to go out when the
team needed me and do a good job. It's just a small step. The key
tonight was feeling comfortable and keeping my focus."
He allowed himself a postgame smile, but that's as close as he
got to celebrating his best start of the year.
If Hampton wasn't about to rave about his work, others were
willing.
"That's what the doctor ordered," Mets general manager Steve
Phillips said. "That's what we thought we'd get when he got him."
Hampton largely struggled in his first seven starts for New
York, compiling a 6.52 ERA and walking 36 in 38 2/3 innings.
"I think maybe he stopped thinking about himself and just
thought about the competition," Mets manager Bobby Valentine said.
"He pitched the way he's capable of pitching."
Hampton (3-4), acquired from Houston in a December deal, allowed
six hits, struck out eight and walked one.
His father, Mike Hampton Sr., saw his son struggle and drove 300
miles to Miami to spend time with Mike Jr.
Tom Seaver, a broadcaster and occasional instructor for the
Mets, spoke with Hampton for 15 minutes in the clubhouse last
Saturday. Whatever they said seemed to work.
"There's adjustments you have to make in a season and in a
career. Talking to Tom Seaver, he told me some of the greatest
pitchers in the world have had this. You have to go out,
concentrate and relax. That's the biggest thing. There are ups and
downs, and for me there was a big down period."
Derek Bell and Edgardo Alfonzo hit consecutive home runs in the
third inning against Kris Benson (2-4) to back Hampton, who has won
three of his last four decisions. It was just the second win in
eight games for the Mets.
"I was just able to relax a little bit," Hampton said. "I
felt pretty comfortable the whole game. I didn't worry about too
much other than making pitches.
After Hampton allowed Brian Giles' leadoff hit in the ninth and
hit Wil Cordero with one out, Armando Benitez relieved for his
ninth save in 10 chances. He retired Pat Meares on a flyout and
struck out pinch-hitter John Vander Wal.
Bell, acquired in the Hampton deal, hit a 2-0 pitch over the
right-field wall for his sixth home run and Alfonzo, who went
3-for-4, hit the next pitch to center for his fifth.
"I feel good about the way I threw," Benson said. "I got a
couple of pitches up in one inning and I paid for it."
Hampton pitched out of a jam in the fifth when Kevin Young led
off with a single and Bell misjudged Wil Cordero's fly to right
which went over his head for a double.
Hampton struck out Meares, Young was retired during a rundown
following Luis Sojo's grounder and Benson hit a comebacker.
Benson has allowed 15 of his 26 runs this season on nine home
runs.
Game notes
Some sluggish baserunning by the Pirates helped Hampton
escape the fifth without a run. Hampton threw a pitch in the dirt
that skipped away from Mike Piazza but Young didn't break from
third. Piazza overthrew Hampton at the plate but Young still stayed
at third. ... The Mets have hit consecutive homers three times this
season, twice in Pittsburgh. Piazza and Robin Ventura did it
against the Pirates on April 15 and Alfonzo and Piazza homered
against the Cubs on April 23. ... Opponents are hitting .370
against Pirates reliever Jose Silva, so the coaching staff is
trying to alter his motion. The belief is hitters are seeing the
ball too early. ... Sojo's streak of home runs in consecutive games
ended at three. The last Pirates player to homer in four straight
was Barry Bonds from Aug. 18-21, 1987. ... It was the Mets' second
shutout win.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
NY Mets Clubhouse
Pittsburgh Clubhouse
Mets place Rickey on unconditional waivers
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