|
|
MLB |
Scores Schedules Standings Statistics Transactions Injuries: AL | NL Players Weekly Lineup Message Board Minor Leagues MLB Stat Search Clubhouses |
Sport Sections |
|
|
Monday, Jun. 5 7:10pm ET
Belle has three hits as Mets fall | |||||
| ||||||
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME LOG
NEW YORK (AP) -- Albert Belle made the most of his first game at Shea Stadium. So did Jason Tyner. Belle got three hits off Mike Hampton and drove in two runs as the Baltimore Orioles beat the New York Mets 4-2 on a windy Monday night and broke a five-game losing streak.
Tyner, making his major league debut, was 2-for-3 with a
sacrifice bunt for New York, including an RBI single off Mike
Mussina. The 23-year-old rookie was promoted from Triple-A Norfolk
before the game and immediately became the Mets' leadoff hitter.
"The whole day was a whirlwind. It was a blur," Tyner said.
"To be honest, I'm glad it's over. But I wish I could remember
that my first game was a win."
Orioles manager Mike Hargrove, back after missing two games
while attending his son's high school graduation in Cleveland, made
an unusual move that worked during a three-run rally in the seventh
off Hampton (6-5).
Hampton, who had won four straight decisions, gave up a leadoff
homer to B.J. Surhoff that made it 2-all in the seventh. Mark Lewis
followed with a single and Mussina, allowed to bat, bunted into a
forceout at second base.
Rich Amaral walked and, with Mussina at second, Hargrove sent in
Delino DeShields to run for the pitcher. Mike Bordick delivered a
single to center field that scored the speedy DeShields -- Mussina
likely would not have made it.
"It was his last inning anyway," Hargrove said. "As it turned
out, when his turn came up, the bunt was in order. But then I made
the move with DeShields and it paid off."
With two outs, Belle blooped an RBI double for a 4-2 lead that
finished Hampton. Belle is 6-for-8 in his career against the
left-hander.
Right before Belle batted, a fan in the front row teased him,
calling him "Joey," the name he was known by when he broke into
the majors.
"That's what my big, fat paycheck says," Belle retorted,
drawing a laugh from the fan, Christopher Weldon, 28, of Wilton,
Conn., and spectators around him.
Mussina (3-6) gave up two runs in the second, ending the inning
by getting Mike Piazza on a fly ball with the bases loaded. Mussina
allowed little else before leaving after the sixth, retiring his
last nine batters.
Mussina, Mike Trombley and Mike Timlin combined to retire the
last 18 batters. Timlin got his fifth save.
Piazza's bid for a solo home run in the eighth was blown back in
play by the wind.
Tyner, batting .347 at Norfolk and leading the International
League with 27 stolen bases, was New York's first-round draft pick
in 1998. The left fielder made a fast impression with the Mets,
too.
With his wife, father, sister and uncle in the stands, Tyner led
off the bottom of the first by hitting a one-hopper off Mussina's
glove, beating third baseman Cal Ripken's throw for a single.
Tyner's try at stealing second was foiled when Derek Bell hit a
foul ball. Bell then grounded into a forceout at second base, but
Tyner hustled and slid into Bordick, forcing a wild throw.
With two outs in the second, Tyner fell behind 0-2 on two
curveballs before slicing an opposite-field single to left for a
1-0 lead.
"He threw me curves that I've never seen," Tyner said.
"Really, everything looked different up here. The stands seemed to
go on forever."
Edgardo Alfonzo later drew a bases-loaded walk for a 2-0 lead in
the second.
"He looked like he knew what he was doing," Mets manager Bobby
Valentine said of the newest New Yorker. "It's good to have him."
Belle hit a single in the third that drove in Amaral, who scored
twice and stole two bases.
Game notes | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Baltimore Clubhouse NY Mets Clubhouse Mets find new leadoff hitter Tyner down on the farm
Mets not surprised by Rocker's demotion
RECAPS Boston 3 Florida 2
Baltimore 4
|