|
|
|
|
 |
| MLB |
|
Scores Schedules Standings Statistics Transactions Injuries: AL | NL Players Weekly Lineup Message Board Minor Leagues MLB Stat Search Clubhouses |
| Sport Sections |
|
|
| |
Saturday, Sep. 16 7:05pm ET
Error with two outs opens Mets' floodgates | |||||
|
| ||||||
|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME LOG
MONTREAL (AP) -- The New York Mets took advantage of a few extra outs. Edgardo Alfonzo and Robin Ventura hit consecutive homers as the Mets scored six unearned runs in the fourth inning and beat the Montreal Expos 10-4 Saturday night. "We got a break in that inning, but that's the thing you have to do," Ventura said. New York stayed two games behind Atlanta, which beat Arizona 12-10, for the NL East lead. The Mets moved five games ahead of the Diamondbacks in the wild card race. Expos reliever Steve Kline threw his glove in the direction of first-base umpire Ian Lamplugh -- but did not hit him -- after being ejected in the eighth inning. "You don't get a glove thrown at you all the time, so obviously I was surprised," Lamplugh said. "He said something that he wasn't supposed to say so he got ejected." Kline argued after Lamplugh called Jay Payton safe for an RBI infield single with two outs. "He obviously had a pretty violent reaction and tried to hit me with his glove, and then he tried to hit me with his hat," Lamplugh said. "It was close enough with the glove that I had to move my head when it was thrown in my direction." Replays showed that Payton should have been called out to end the inning. "If they're going to fine me for expressing my feelings, they should fine (Lamplugh) for making a (bad) call," Kline said. "It's that simple. The guy blew the call. If you watch the tape, he's out. I know they're going to make mistakes, but the game's not over when it's 9-3." Lamplugh didn't know if the outburst called for a suspension. "Beyond that, it's out of my control," Lamplugh said. "It's going to go to the league office and Frank Robinson will make a decision." Alfonzo, who had four RBI, hit a three-run homer off Dustin Hermanson (11-14) and Ventura followed with his 23rd of the season. The Mets scored six times following center fielder Peter Bergeron's two-out error. Todd Zeile added his 19th homer in the seventh. Rick Reed (10-5) gave up eight hits and two runs in six innings to become the fourth Mets starter to win at least 10 games. He struck out eight, his highest total since he struck out a season-high 10 on May 16, and walked none. With the Mets leading 1-0 on Alfonzo's RBI single in the first, Payton singled to lead off the fourth. Third baseman Geoff Blum then made a sensational catch, diving to his right to snare Todd Pratt's liner and rob him of extra bases. Reed hit a two-out single, but Hermanson appeared ready to escape the inning until Bergeron dropped Benny Agbayani's shallow fly, allowing one run to score. "He's a very sure-handed guy, but that was really the play of that inning, maybe the play of the game," Expos manager Felipe Alou said. "That led to some big scoring. But, also in that same inning, Blum made a great play on that incredible drive by Pratt close to the bag." Darryl Hamilton's RBI single made it 3-0 and Alfonzo hit his 21st home run. Ventura's homer made it 7-0. "Benny had a good at-bat but hit it off the end of the bat, and Bergeron dropped it and opened up the floodgates," Valentine said. "We had some really good at-bats before and after that." Hermanson allowed nine hits and seven runs, though just one earned, in 3 2/3 innings. He allowed five runs over seven innings in his last start, though just one was earned. Blum and Orlando Cabrera hit RBI doubles as the Expos cut New York's lead to 7-2. Zeile homered leading off the seventh and Agbayani had a sacrifice fly later in the inning. Expos rookie Talmadge Nunnari hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom half for his first career RBI. Game notesThe Mets have hit consecutive homers 13 times this season. ... Mike Piazza was rested and Pratt made his 36th start of the season behind the plate. Piazza, who was available to pinch-hit, will start Sunday's series finale. ... The Expos announced that Tony LaCava has been hired as the team's director of player development. LaCava, 39, who was Atlanta's national cross-checker this season, was a scout for the Angels from 1989-99. ... Vladimir Guerrero exchanged stares with reliever Rick White after he was hit by a pitch for the eighth time this season with two outs in the seventh. Guerrero eventually walked to first without incident and was replaced by pinch-runner Terry Jones. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard NY Mets Clubhouse Montreal Clubhouse RECAPS Boston 8 Detroit 5
Detroit 12
NY Mets 10
| |||||