Blooming Ideas

So far this season the Mets' are 1-2 vs. the Braves and 10-2 vs, anyone else. So keep those other teams coming. Like the last-place San Diego Padres, who the Mets defeated last night 7-2, thanks to HRs from Carlos Delgado (his 6th), Julio Franco (in a pinch-hitting role; at 47, he was oldest major leaguer ever to hit a HR) and Kaz Matsui (an inside-the-parker in his first AB of the season). Steve Trachsel (2-1) pitched 6 solid innnings and was bailed out of a 7th-inning jam when Duaner Sanchez induced a DP (he earned his first win as a Met). David Wright rebounded from his poor series against the Braves with a double and a diving catch that started the DP that ended the Padres' mini-rally in the 7th. The Mets scored 6 runs in the 8th to take the lead, and Aaron Heilman and Jorge Julio mopped up the last two innings. It was a great start to the Mets' 10-game road trip. Let's hope they beat up on the Padres some more before heading to San Francisco and Atlanta.

Carlos Beltran started but was pulled from the game after he further aggravated his right hamstring. Cliff Floyd (strained rib cage) was also back in the lineup. However, Anderson Hernandez (slipped disc) was placed on the DL. Matsui will start at 2B for the foreseeable future.

The Mets (11-4) gained a half game on the idle Braves. They lead the Eastern division by 3.5 games.

Mike Piazza was 0 for 2 and hit into a DP in his first game against the Mets since signing with the Pads over the winter.

Next game: Friday, April 21 in San Diego, 10:05 pm start on SNY & WFAN, Brian Bannister (2-0) vs. Woody Williams (1-0)

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