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GAME LOG
TORONTO (AP) -- Marty Cordova called it the most meaningful hit
of his career.
Cordova hit a grand slam off All-Star Al Leiter as the Toronto
Blue Jays defeated the New York Mets 7-3 on Sunday.
|  | | Toronto's Marty Cordova (15) gets congratulations from teammates after belting a grand slam on Sunday. |
"This is probably one of the best days I've had in baseball,"
said Cordova, who spent five years with the low-payroll Minnesota
Twins. "If I can help this team win with a big hit like that, then
that's just as rewarding as playing everyday on a last-place team
where the hits are meaningless."
The Blue Jays remained a half game behind the first-place New
York Yankees in the AL East.
Cordova, the AL Rookie of the Year in 1995, has just 147 at-bats
this season.
"I sit here and I think this is not how my career should go. I
still feel like I can play everyday for some other teams, but I've
always wanted to play for a winning team," he said. "This was
huge for me."
Down 3-2 in the sixth inning, Toronto loaded the bases on Craig
Grebeck's walk, Raul Mondesi's single, and Tony Batista's infield
single. Cordova followed with his first career slam and third homer
of the season.
Leiter (10-3), the loser of Tuesday's All-Star game, was perfect
until allowing a two-out single in the fourth.
The 34-year-old left-hander walked the bases loaded in the fifth
before allowing an RBI single to Alberto Castillo and an RBI
grounder to Homer Bush.
Leiter tied a season high by allowing six runs. He gave up seven
hits and four walks and struck out six in 5 2/3 innings as the Mets
lost for the ninth time in 12 games.
He blamed poor umpiring for the loss.
"That was the worst umpired game I've ever seen," Leiter said
of plate umpire Mike Fichter, a summer relief umpire. "The guy had
no clue. It wasn't just me either. Guys on the Jays were
complaining too. I hope it doesn't come out that I'm a cry baby
because it wasn't just me."
Roy Halladay (4-5) won for the second time since being recalled
from the minors on June 24. The 23 year-old right-hander allowed
three runs on five hits in six innings, struck out six and walked
three.
Halladay also noticed an unusual strike zone.
"The strike zone changed a couple of times during the game,"
he said. "I thought he changed the zone because it was a tight
game."
Toronto catcher Castillo also said the strike zone was erratic.
"A couple of times he asked me what do you think about that
pitch," said Castillo, who was reluctant to criticize for fear the
umpire might get back at him later.
Mets first baseman Todd Zeile also had a problem with Fichter.
"The umpire affected the outcome of this ballgame," said
Zeile, who struck out looking to end a bases-loaded threat in the
seventh. "I was rung up on a pitch that was out of the strike
zone."
Billy Koch got four outs for his 21st save in 25 chances.
Todd Pratt's seventh homer gave New York a 1-0 lead in the third
inning.
After the Blue Jays scored twice in the fifth, New York went
ahead again 3-2 in the sixth on Zeile's RBI triple and Benny
Agbayani's run-scoring grounder.
Jose Cruz Jr. hit his 21st homer off Bobby M. Jones in the
eighth for the final run.
Game
notes
Three naked women held up signs advertising a local strip
club in one of SkyDome's hotel rooms. Sunday was Family Day at
SkyDome. "Of all the days to come and show you're breasts, they
picked Family Day," Toronto DH Brad Fullmer said. ... Mets
right-hander Rick Reed will be activated from the disabled list
Monday. Reed, who was on the DL with a strained calf and fractured
left wrist, will start that night against the Blue Jays. He'll be
watched closely by pitching coach Dave Wallace. ... The game was
delayed for 12 minutes in the second inning when the SkyDome's roof
opened. ... Halladay made his fourth start since being recalled
from the minors.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
NY Mets Clubhouse
Toronto Clubhouse
RECAPS
Boston 5
Montreal 2
Houston 5
Cleveland 1
Detroit 6
Cincinnati 2
NY Yankees 9
Philadelphia 8
Toronto 7
NY Mets 3
Atlanta 6
Tampa Bay 4
Baltimore 9
Florida 5
Chi. White Sox 11
Milwaukee 5
Minnesota 5
St. Louis 2
San Francisco 6
Texas 4
Seattle 6
Arizona 3
San Diego 6
Anaheim 5
Oakland 0
Colorado 0
Chicago Cubs 10
Kansas City 7
Los Angeles 7
Pittsburgh 3
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