Call It a Comeback!

Chase Field, The BOB, change the name, the result stays the same, the Mets hit the ball and win games in Arizona. No doubt about it.

The Mets opened a 7 game west coast swing last night in Arizona, where they had gone 10-0 as of late. It was in Arizona where they kicked off the 9-1 road trip that solidified their first place hold last year. This year, they stood a half-game behind the Braves as the trip began. Arizona is a young team, and stood at 16-13 after losing two straight. Tom Glavine versus recently activated from the DL Micah Owings. Tom was looking for win 294 on his march to 300.

Arizona took a 1-0 lead in the second, on the strength of and Eric Byrnes triple (on a poor play by Alou, he got a bad angle on the ball, and made a poor throw to the cut off man). After retiring Carlos Quentin, Glavine gave up a single to Stephen Drew.

After being no-hit through 3, the Mets went to work in the 4th. Beltran drew his second walk of the night. Following a Delgado pop-out, Moises Alou doubled to drive in Beltran. Green followed with a walk, and PLD singled to drive in Alou, with Green getting tagged out at third. 2-1 Mets.

In the fifth, Glavine allowed a single to Drew, and following a wild pitch, Chris Snyder belted a homer to left, making it 3-2 D-Backs. But Beltran answered in the top of the 6th with a LONG home run, estimated at 442 ft to center. Tie ballgame.

Glavine alas could not hold it, and gave up a home run to Orlando Hudson in the bottom of the sixth to make it 4-3 D-Backs. The Mets did nothing in the 7th or 8th on offense. The bullpen did its part, as Pedro Dos pitched a 1-2-3 seventh, and Heilman pitched a 1-2-3 eighth.

Top of the ninth, and the D-Backs bring in closer Valverde. After striking out Endy (he had not struck out this season entering the game), Green reached on an error. PLD walked, and up strode Damien Easley. Easley, for the second time in 10 days, blasted a home run to give the Mets the lead, 6-4. But the Mets were not done abusing the D-Back closer. Old Man Franco pinch hit for Aaron, and walked. Jose Jose Jose then singled. Nippert relieved Valverde, and promptly gave up a 3-run home run to David Wright, a nice shot to right field, making it 9-4. After a Beltran fly out, Delgado singled, but Endy struck out again to end the beating. The Show came on for the 9th, and despite walking Byrnes and allowing Drew to single (that kid is good), escaped the inning unscathed.

A good win. A comeback one at that. Easley proved his value to the team again. It is amazing how Omar finds these guys. Wright mashes his second homer in 3 games. Heilman pitches well, which is nice to see. The Show worked his way out of trouble. The downer of the night is Alou being replaced with an aching knee. This is not good news. Let's give him a couple of days to rest Willie. The MRI this week showed nothing structural, but a 41 year old needs to get his rest in.

Earlier in the day, the Mets DFA'd Chan Ho Park, and called up Lino (Mr. Infinity) Urdaneta. Still no word on the starter for Saturday. Could be Sele, but odds are it will be Jorge Sosa. Willie all but killed Park after his start the other night, and said yesterday that he was not the first option, but they had not stopped Sosa from starting Sunday, removing him from the equation.

Tonight, NL Pitcher of the Month for April John Maine goes up against Randy (Big Eunuch) Johnson, making his third start of the season. The Mets have had success against Johnson at times. Let's see if Johnny can keep up the pace.


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Islanders news - Rick DiPietro underwent a scope on his hip this week. It is expected that he will be ready for training camp. He will be on crutches for 2 weeks, and rest for 4-6 weeks. Take it slow Rick, and heal up. They need you at 100%.