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**Baseball Guru** · 04-03-2006, 04:53 PM

2006 Game Recaps

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By MIKE FITZPATRICK, AP Baseball Writer
April 3, 2006

NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Mets got a big break from an umpire to start the season and Billy Wagner made sure they didn't waste it.

Tom Glavine outpitched Livan Hernandez in a matchup of World Series MVPs, newcomer Xavier Nady went 4-for-4 and David Wright homered to help New York edge the Washington Nationals 3-2 Monday.

Alfonso Soriano certainly looked competent in his reluctant debut as a major league outfielder -- and he was the player thrown out at the plate when Tim Tschida missed a key call in the eighth inning.

With the Nationals trailing by one, Soriano singled leading off and -- with none out -- was curiously waved around third by coach Tony Beasley on Ryan Zimmerman's double into the left-field corner.

Jose Reyes' accurate relay throw to the plate beat a diving Soriano, but replays showed catcher Paul Lo Duca juggled and dropped the ball after applying the tag.

Tschida, who had properly rotated down from first base, didn't see it, perhaps blocked by Lo Duca's back from his position in front of the plate.

Surprisingly, the Nationals never argued the call.

Aaron Heilman escaped the inning without any damage. Wagner, the All-Star closer who signed a $43 million, four-year contract with New York in the offseason to nail down tight games just like this one, worked the ninth for a save in his Mets debut.

He also got some help in the form of ill-advised baserunning by the Nationals when Jose Vidro was easily thrown out at second by Carlos Beltran to end the game on a single to center.

Playing very deep in left, especially against left-handed sluggers, Soriano caught four fly balls without a problem. He did mistakenly break back and circle Nady's sixth-inning blooper, letting it drop in front of him for a single.

**Baseball Guru** · 04-06-2006, 01:27 AM

Game 2 Recap- Washington 9, NY Mets 5, 10 innings

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By MIKE FITZPATRICK, AP Baseball Writer
April 6, 2006

NEW YORK (AP) -- Ryan Zimmerman's first major league homer sent the game to extra innings. Alfonso Soriano's lack of hustle sent him to the bench.

Soriano was pulled by Nationals manager Frank Robinson for not running out a popup during Washington's 9-5 victory over the New York Mets in 10 innings Wednesday night.

"That's the rule around here," Robinson said. "They've all been told. It's been said more than one time."

Soriano, hit in the helmet by a pitch in the second inning, popped up to the catcher in fair territory in the sixth and hardly budged from the batter's box. He said he thought the ball might fade into foul territory, but Robinson's decision was fair and he wasn't surprised by it.

Soriano's habit of not running balls out also agitated Yankees manager Joe Torre when Soriano played in New York.

"Everyone knows how Frank is. He doesn't ask for much," said Nationals teammate Jose Guillen, who hit a go-ahead homer in the 10th.

Acquired from Texas in a December trade, Soriano refused to play the outfield one day this spring before reluctantly agreeing to switch positions from second base. He was asked if he wants to play for Washington.

"Yeah, why not?" he said. "I feel comfortable. I like the team. I think we have a good team."

Zimmerman hit a tying homer off new Mets closer Billy Wagner in the ninth, and Guillen connected for a two-run shot off loser Jorge Julio.

Nick Johnson hit a three-run drive in the sixth to start Washington's comeback from a 4-0 deficit against right-hander Brian Bannister, who began his big league career with 5 1-3 hitless innings.

Carlos Delgado hit a two-run homer for his first hit with the Mets, and Xavier Nady also connected off starter John Patterson, bothered by a tight right forearm.

Patterson said he doesn't think he'll need to miss a turn, but Robinson said that might be something to consider.

Wagner entered in the ninth to protect a 4-3 lead, but Zimmerman led off and drove a 3-2 fastball over the left-field fence to tie it.

"Pretty good guy to get it off of," Zimmerman said. "To hit it off someone like that makes it even more special."

The first amateur draft pick in Nationals history a year ago, the third baseman out of Virginia hit .397 in 58 at-bats last season and is considered one of baseball's most promising rookies.

"Don't put him in Cooperstown. Slow down," Robinson said. "It's great to see him hit it -- I don't care if he hit it off Joe Blow."

Zimmerman and Wagner know each other from workouts at Virginia.

"I wanted to blow his doors off," Wagner said. "I don't want to go to the Cavaliers banquet and hear this."

Guillen homered in the 10th, just over the glove of leaping left fielder Cliff Floyd, after Jose Vidro singled.

"Hanging slider right in the middle. What do you expect me to do in that situation?" Guillen said.

Royce Clayton added a two-run single through a drawn-in infield, and Damian Jackson's RBI double made it 9-4.

New York scored on Felix Rodriguez's balk in the bottom half.

Chad Cordero worked a scoreless ninth for the win, escaping a bases-loaded jam when Paul Lo Duca lined out to right.

Washington hit only 117 home runs last season, fewest in the majors. Wagner gave up just six in 77 2-3 innings for Philadelphia before signing a $43 million, four-year contract with the Mets.

The hard-throwing lefty closed out a 3-2 victory in the season opener Monday.

Bannister, the son of former big league pitcher Floyd Bannister, got his first major league start 30 years after his dad was the No. 1 pick in the 1976 amateur draft by Houston out of Arizona State.

"It was a lot of fun," the rookie said.

With his parents sitting behind home plate, Bannister allowed only two hits in six innings.

"It's a big thrill. It's hard to explain. It's kind of surreal," his father said during the seventh-inning stretch.

Showing confidence, poise and a major league curveball, the 25-year-old right-hander did not allow a hit until Vidro's one-out double in the sixth. He got a warm ovation from the sparse crowd of 19,557 on a 44-degree night.

Bannister then hit Guillen with a pitch and gave up Johnson's opposite-field homer for his first hit of the season. But Bannister regrouped after a visit from pitching coach Rick Peterson and struck out Clayton with a runner on second to end the inning.

"Inside he's really excited and nervous, but he's able to channel it outside to where it's probably an asset for him," said Floyd Bannister, an All-Star with Seattle in 1982, when he led the AL with 209 strikeouts.

Soriano said he was fine after getting plunked in the second, though his headgear might have been cracked. He said he expects to be ready to play Thursday night, and Robinson said there will be no further punishment.

Notes

David Wright had an RBI single for New York. ... Nady's home run was his first with the Mets. It made him 5-for-5 with his new team after a huge debut Monday. ... Patterson gave up four runs, four hits and three walks in four innings, striking out seven.

**wilkerson_rulz-06** · 04-06-2006, 05:53 AM

Originally posted by Baseball Guru

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=260405121

By MIKE FITZPATRICK, AP Baseball Writer
April 6, 2006

NEW YORK (AP) -- Ryan Zimmerman's first major league homer sent the game to extra innings. Alfonso Soriano's lack of hustle sent him to the bench.

Soriano was pulled by Nationals manager Frank Robinson for not running out a popup during Washington's 9-5 victory over the New York Mets in 10 innings Wednesday night.

"That's the rule around here," Robinson said. "They've all been told. It's been said more than one time."

Soriano, hit in the helmet by a pitch in the second inning, popped up to the catcher in fair territory in the sixth and hardly budged from the batter's box. He said he thought the ball might fade into foul territory, but Robinson's decision was fair and he wasn't surprised by it.

Soriano's habit of not running balls out also agitated Yankees manager Joe Torre when Soriano played in New York.

"Everyone knows how Frank is. He doesn't ask for much," said Nationals teammate Jose Guillen, who hit a go-ahead homer in the 10th.

Acquired from Texas in a December trade, Soriano refused to play the outfield one day this spring before reluctantly agreeing to switch positions from second base. He was asked if he wants to play for Washington.

"Yeah, why not?" he said. "I feel comfortable. I like the team. I think we have a good team."

Zimmerman hit a tying homer off new Mets closer Billy Wagner in the ninth, and Guillen connected for a two-run shot off loser Jorge Julio.

Nick Johnson hit a three-run drive in the sixth to start Washington's comeback from a 4-0 deficit against right-hander Brian Bannister, who began his big league career with 5 1-3 hitless innings.

Carlos Delgado hit a two-run homer for his first hit with the Mets, and Xavier Nady also connected off starter John Patterson, bothered by a tight right forearm.

Patterson said he doesn't think he'll need to miss a turn, but Robinson said that might be something to consider.

Wagner entered in the ninth to protect a 4-3 lead, but Zimmerman led off and drove a 3-2 fastball over the left-field fence to tie it.

"Pretty good guy to get it off of," Zimmerman said. "To hit it off someone like that makes it even more special."

The first amateur draft pick in Nationals history a year ago, the third baseman out of Virginia hit .397 in 58 at-bats last season and is considered one of baseball's most promising rookies.

"Don't put him in Cooperstown. Slow down," Robinson said. "It's great to see him hit it -- I don't care if he hit it off Joe Blow."

Zimmerman and Wagner know each other from workouts at Virginia.

"I wanted to blow his doors off," Wagner said. "I don't want to go to the Cavaliers banquet and hear this."

Guillen homered in the 10th, just over the glove of leaping left fielder Cliff Floyd, after Jose Vidro singled.

"Hanging slider right in the middle. What do you expect me to do in that situation?" Guillen said.

Royce Clayton added a two-run single through a drawn-in infield, and Damian Jackson's RBI double made it 9-4.

New York scored on Felix Rodriguez's balk in the bottom half.

Chad Cordero worked a scoreless ninth for the win, escaping a bases-loaded jam when Paul Lo Duca lined out to right.

Washington hit only 117 home runs last season, fewest in the majors. Wagner gave up just six in 77 2-3 innings for Philadelphia before signing a $43 million, four-year contract with the Mets.

The hard-throwing lefty closed out a 3-2 victory in the season opener Monday.

Bannister, the son of former big league pitcher Floyd Bannister, got his first major league start 30 years after his dad was the No. 1 pick in the 1976 amateur draft by Houston out of Arizona State.

"It was a lot of fun," the rookie said.

With his parents sitting behind home plate, Bannister allowed only two hits in six innings.

"It's a big thrill. It's hard to explain. It's kind of surreal," his father said during the seventh-inning stretch.

Showing confidence, poise and a major league curveball, the 25-year-old right-hander did not allow a hit until Vidro's one-out double in the sixth. He got a warm ovation from the sparse crowd of 19,557 on a 44-degree night.

Bannister then hit Guillen with a pitch and gave up Johnson's opposite-field homer for his first hit of the season. But Bannister regrouped after a visit from pitching coach Rick Peterson and struck out Clayton with a runner on second to end the inning.

"Inside he's really excited and nervous, but he's able to channel it outside to where it's probably an asset for him," said Floyd Bannister, an All-Star with Seattle in 1982, when he led the AL with 209 strikeouts.

Soriano said he was fine after getting plunked in the second, though his headgear might have been cracked. He said he expects to be ready to play Thursday night, and Robinson said there will be no further punishment.

Notes

David Wright had an RBI single for New York. ... Nady's home run was his first with the Mets. It made him 5-for-5 with his new team after a huge debut Monday. ... Patterson gave up four runs, four hits and three walks in four innings, striking out seven.

Go NATIONALS!

**BadKarma** · 04-06-2006, 12:21 PM

Go to yer own forum!

Just kidding, you guys can use all the lucky wins you can get. Bannister was mighty impressive in his 1st start. Despite the loss, I was happy with the way he pitched.

**Baseball Guru** · 04-06-2006, 02:54 PM

Agreed!

Well, not about going to his own forum

, but being happy the way Bannister pitched... Should have had the win but hey, Wagner is human and he made a mistake... Bannister will get another shot at them next week...

**wilkerson_rulz-06** · 04-06-2006, 04:08 PM

Originally posted by BadKarma

Go to yer own forum!

Just kidding, you guys can use all the lucky wins you can get. Bannister was mighty impressive in his 1st start. Despite the loss, I was happy with the way he pitched.

"Lucky" ?!
We were destined to win.

**efin98** · 04-06-2006, 04:57 PM

Originally posted by BadKarma

Go to yer own forum!

Just kidding, you guys can use all the lucky wins you can get. Bannister was mighty impressive in his 1st start. Despite the loss, I was happy with the way he pitched.

That's about the second best way you could show that you belong in that rotation and starting the 2nd game of the year...actually getting the no hitter would have been better

**efin98** · 04-06-2006, 04:59 PM

Originally posted by wilkerson_rulz

"Lucky" ?!
We were destined to win.

Actually they were lucky. They caught Wagner being overconfident.

For goodness sake he was pitching to Zimmerman- not Soriano! You don't give up a homer in the top of the nineth!!!

**efin98** · 04-06-2006, 05:05 PM

These are a few observations about the Mets from last night:

1. they have the potential to at least take the Wild Card if they stay healthy
2. they have a core of players that can get red hot real fast and at the right moment
3. they have a lot of hustle but that diminishes with the bullpen
4. they need to find someone to setup Wagner
5. the all stars need to find their confidence again

Other than that, I think the team will do great things. Nady will be the next breakout star- just watch!

**Baseball Guru** · 04-07-2006, 01:17 AM

Game 3 Recap- NY Mets 10, Washington 5

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By MIKE FITZPATRICK, AP Baseball Writer
April 7, 2006

NEW YORK (AP) -- Brandishing his bat, Jose Guillen charged right out of the box at Pedro Martinez after getting hit by a pitch for the second time.

Two innings later, it took a lot more cajoling to push Carlos Beltran out of the dugout for a curtain call.

Beltran homered and drove in four runs, and Carlos Delgado also connected to help Martinez win his first start of the season as the New York Mets beat the Washington Nationals 10-5 Thursday night in a game interrupted by a near fight.

Guillen pointed his bat at Martinez and went halfway to the mound after he was plunked in the fifth inning. The slugger was corralled by plate umpire Ted Barrett and Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca as the benches and bullpens emptied. Players ran onto the field quickly, but no punches were thrown.

"I think enough is enough," said Guillen, nailed several times by Martinez during his career. "We used to be friends, but that relationship is over."

The right-hander said he didn't hit Guillen on purpose, he was simply trying to pitch him inside.

"Those pitches just got away. That pitch wasn't really that far in, except he leans over," Martinez said. "I think he overreacted a little bit, especially going out there with the bat. I can understand it if you're frustrated or mad or something. You want to charge, you charge. But don't bring your bat out there. I wasn't scared anyway."

As for Beltran, he hit a two-run homer in the seventh for his first hit of the year. Booed most of the series, he was coaxed out of the dugout to acknowledge the fans by teammate Julio Franco and the crowd of 25,839.

"Put it this way: I'm a friend not only when you're doing well, I'm a friend when you're not doing so well," Beltran said.

He pointed out that he appreciated the way Mets fans supported the team even though they fell short of making the playoffs last year.

But, he said, "I do believe they can be better."

Washington's Nick Johnson also was hit by pitches twice, surely a painful experience on a 50-degree night.

The Nationals hit only one batter, but reliever Felix Rodriguez was ejected when he plunked Lo Duca with first base open in the eighth. Washington manager Frank Robinson then got tossed, too.

Missing his pinpoint control, Martinez (1-0) hit a career-high three batters with pitches. The three-time Cy Young Award winner allowed five runs, four earned, and four hits on 96 pitches in six innings for his 198th career win.

He struck out six, walked five (one intentionally) and delivered a surprising RBI single.

Slowed by a nagging toe injury, Martinez made his only two starts of spring training during the final week of March.

Duaner Sanchez escaped a jam in the seventh to preserve a one-run lead.

Jose Reyes drove in two runs, scored twice and finished with three hits for New York. David Wright went 3-for-4 with a walk, two runs and an RBI.

Martinez's fifth-inning pitch grazed Guillen on the arm. That's when he started toward the Mets' ace, who has never been shy about buzzing batters. Martinez stood calmly on the mound as Delgado and other teammates rushed in front of him to provide protection.

"I know how to take care of it, don't worry," Guillen said with a smile, then referred to the rest of the season series. "I'm going to make sure I play in all the games he's in. ... I want him to throw inside. Now I want him more than ever."

Franco walked Guillen to first base, and Washington pitcher Livan Hernandez also played peacemaker with Guillen and Martinez as the crowd chanted "Pedro! Pedro!"

It was the third time in two nights Guillen was hit by a pitch. Martinez plunked him in the side in the third inning, and the right fielder walked slowly to first.

"I know he was upset. He's been hit three times in the last two days -- I don't blame him. But that wasn't my intention. That stuff happens in the game," Martinez said.

Guillen has often been irritated by getting hit. In 2004 with Anaheim, he complained that Angels pitchers weren't doing enough to protect him by brushing back opposing batters. He was hit by pitches 15 times that season, then 19 times last year -- tied for most in the NL.

Johnson, plunked earlier in the game by Martinez, followed with a three-run homer that tied it at 5.

Both starters threw inside all night. Wright had to jackknife out of the way of Ramon Ortiz's pitches a handful of times. Then he flipped his bat with satisfaction after lining an opposite-field single in the fourth.

Sanchez hit Johnson with a pitch in the seventh.

Delgado gave the Mets a 6-5 lead when he connected in the fifth off Ortiz (0-1), the loser in his Washington debut. It was Delgado's second home run in two nights.

Cliff Floyd added an RBI double off lefty Joey Eischen, a longtime nemesis. Beltran had a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Notes

One night after hitting his first major league homer off All-Star closer Billy Wagner, Washington rookie 3B Ryan Zimmerman went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts -- three against Martinez. ... Barrett left before the seventh after getting hit in the throat by a foul ball. Crew chief Rick Reed moved from second base to home plate after a delay of about 15 minutes. A CT scan showed swelling of Barrett's throat, but he is expected to be OK. He was released from the hospital and was to travel with the crew to Philadelphia, where he was to have more tests.

**Baseball Guru** · 04-08-2006, 02:04 AM

Game 4 Recap- NY Mets 9, Florida 3

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By HAL BOCK, AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- When Steve Trachsel went looking for information about the young Florida Marlins, there wasn't much available on a team that has 11 rookies.

So the New York Mets' right-hander relied on pitching basics Friday night and the strategy paid off in a 9-3 victory.

"You mix it up a little," Trachsel said after limiting the Marlins to three hits over six innings. "You look at video, you look for information but there's not a whole lot out there. They're pretty aggressive."

Thus, Trachsel used some old-fashioned pitching guile, and it worked out just fine.

"I wanted to make good pitches, hit my spots, set guys up," he said.

He stuck to that plan even after the Marlins put the first two batters on base in the first inning.

"I didn't change anything," he said. "If you make good pitches, hit your spots, the defense should get you out of it."

The Mets did just that, and the missed opportunity hurt the Marlins.

"We had a chance," manager Joe Girardi said. "Trax did his job."

Not only on the mound.

Trachsel (1-0) also hit an RBI double in the fourth inning, the 10,000th double in Mets history. That helped build a 4-1 lead that kept on growing as David Wright and Jose Reyes homered. Wright drove in three runs and Reyes had three hits. Carlos Beltran drove in a run and scored another.

"We have such a versatile lineup," Wright said. "We've got speed and power and that produces good at-bats. Everybody in the lineup sees better pitches. Up and down the lineup, we help each other out."

After Trachsel worked his way out of the first-inning jam, he helped his own cause with the milestone double in the fourth. It came in the 7,000th game in franchise history.

He struck out six, walked one and gave up only a solo homer to Mike Jacobs.

The Mets jumped in front in the first against Jason Vargas (0-1).

Reyes opened with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice by Paul Lo Duca. Beltran singled up the middle, scoring Reyes. After Carlos Delgado was hit by a pitch, Beltran stole third and scored on Wright's sacrifice fly. Center fielder Eric Reed ran down Wright's drive and saved an extra-base hit with a diving catch.

Jacobs, who hit 11 home runs in 100 at-bats as a Mets rookie last season, connected against Trachsel for his second homer of the season leading off the fourth. Jacobs added a two-run single in the eighth, but Jeremy Hermida was thrown out at third on the play to end the inning.

The Mets added two runs in the fourth.

Xavier Nady opened with his second hit, moved up on an infield out and scored when Trachsel doubled into the left-field corner. Trachsel came home on a single by Reyes, making it 4-1. Reyes stole second and, after Beltran was walked intentionally, Vargas struck out Delgado, ending the inning.

"I don't know if I couldn't get a rhythm," Vargas said. "But if I did get a rhythm, I couldn't put them away. Anytime you are behind in the count, you are working uphill."

In the fifth, Wright opened with a shot into the left-field bleachers that traveled an estimated 470 feet.

An inning later, New York was back for more against reliever Todd Wellemeyer when Lo Duca was hit by a pitch and scored on a two-out double by Delgado. Wright followed with an RBI single, making it 7-1.

Reyes hit his first home run of the season, a two-run shot in the seventh.

Notes

Marlins rookie leadoff man Hanley Ramirez stretched his streak of opening games by reaching base with a first-inning single. He has led off four games with three singles and a walk. .. Trachsel threw 98 pitches, 63 for strikes. ... Trachsel retired the last nine batters he faced after Jacobs' homer.

**Baseball Guru** · 04-08-2006, 02:10 AM

What a great performance by Trax...

Nothing major, but I am a little concerned about Hernandez at 2nd... There are times he really looks lost at the plate... He needs to have a good hitting performance to gain some confidence..

Also, Julio needs to pick it up... He is the only reliever so far that makes me nervous when he comes out...

But overall I'm happy with the way the team is playing:gt:

**Baseball Guru** · 04-09-2006, 09:02 PM

Game 5 Recap- NY Mets 3, Florida 2

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By MIKE FITZPATRICK, AP Baseball Writer
April 9, 2006

NEW YORK (AP) -- Once Dontrelle Willis departed, the New York Mets felt much better about their chances.

David Wright hit a tying triple in the seventh inning and a sacrifice fly in the ninth, driving in all of New York's runs and giving the Mets a 3-2 victory Sunday over the Florida Marlins after Tom Glavine and Willis went head-to-head in a marquee pitching matchup.

"It was a classic duel," New York manager Willie Randolph said.

Wright's two-run triple off Willis tied the score at 2, and New York got hitless relief work from Duaner Sanchez and Billy Wagner (1-0).

Josh Willingham had a two-run double for the Marlins in the sixth, putting Willis in position to improve his 8-1 record against the Mets. Let down a bit by his defense, he went eight innings but couldn't hold the lead.

"He's got so much movement on his ball. He throws so hard. You just try to grind it out and hope for some breaks," Wright said.

The Mets took both games in a series shortened by Saturday's rainout and moved to 4-1 for the first time since 1998. New York opened 0-5 last year.

"It's a complete reversal," Glavine said. "It's certainly something we want to continue to do, but we have had some problems last year winning on the road, and that's something we have to do something about."

Both starters kissed the corners with precision, as the 40-year-old Glavine matched the 24-year-old Willis pitch for pitch.

"I respect what he does. He definitely paved the way for us left-handers, especially the way he pitches," Willis said.

With the score tied in the ninth, Carlos Beltran drew a leadoff walk from Carlos Martinez (0-1) and went to third on Carlos Delgado's single to right field.

Wright followed with a sacrifice fly to medium right, giving him nine RBIs. Beltran scored easily, sending the sellout crowd of 55,255 home happy.

Wagner threw a scoreless ninth for his first win with the Mets.

Glavine didn't give up a hit until Willingham's bloop single with two outs in the fourth. Willingham was thrown out on the play in a rundown between first and second.

Florida put runners at the corners with none out in the fifth, but Glavine induced consecutive popups and then fanned Willis to end the threat.

A 22-game winner last year and the runner-up for the NL Cy Young Award, Willis yielded seven hits. He struck out four and did not walk a batter for the young Marlins, who dropped to 1-4.

"After he went out of the ballgame, we knew we were going to have our chances to score some runs," Beltran said. "And as it turned out, that's exactly what happened."

Glavine allowed two runs and five hits in six innings, striking out five and walking two.

Hanley Ramirez led off the sixth with a double and advanced on Jeremy Hermida's sacrifice. After Miguel Cabrera was intentionally walked, Willingham doubled over Beltran in center for a 2-0 lead -- the first runs the Marlins scored for Willis in two starts this season.

He pitched five shutout innings of one-hit ball on opening day in Houston and did not get a decision in a 1-0 loss. Then he had another strong performance Sunday.

"We lost. It don't matter," Willis said.

The lefty retired 11 straight before Paul Lo Duca and Beltran opened the seventh with singles, and the Mets quickly took advantage of some shaky Florida defense.

Second baseman Dan Uggla bobbled Delgado's groundout, costing him a chance at a double play. Hermida then misplayed Wright's sinking liner to right into a two-run triple.

"It was one of those in-betweens," Hermida said. "Slicing, sinking at the end."

Willis escaped further damage when Uggla made a terrific, backhand play on Victor Diaz's grounder, preventing the go-ahead run from scoring.

Notes

Willis has a 1.88 ERA in 12 career starts against the Mets. ... New York SS Jose Reyes made an error in the eighth and another in the ninth. ... Willis is 8-0 with a 1.82 ERA and three complete games in 12 April starts since coming up to the majors in 2003. He is the only pitcher since 1960 with at least 10 starts in April to be undefeated in the month. ... Marlins CF Reggie Abercrombie fouled off a suicide squeeze attempt in the fifth, then popped out. ... Glavine is 15-18 in 41 starts against Florida. He has not beaten the Marlins since April 20, 2003.

**Baseball Guru** · 04-11-2006, 02:18 PM

Game 6 Recap- NY Mets 7, Washington 1

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By HOWARD FENDRICH, AP Sports Writer
April 11, 2006

WASHINGTON (AP) -- No beanballs, brawls or even brushbacks Tuesday between the Nationals and Mets. In fact, Washington's home opener was much more low key in every way than last season, when big league baseball returned after a 34-year absence.

Rookie Brian Bannister shut down Washington again for his first major league victory and Carlos Beltran homered off the facing of the upper deck, leading the Mets past the Nationals 7-1.

Bannister (1-0) allowed three hits over seven innings, throwing 107 pitches. The lone run he gave up came on Alfonso Soriano's homer in the seventh. The right-hander held the Nationals hitless for 5 1-3 innings in his big league debut last week in New York.

Seven batters were hit by pitches during that series -- six by Mets pitchers -- and a near-fight ensued. Nationals right-hander Felix Rodriguez and manager Frank Robinson were suspended by Major League Baseball, which told the umpires for this three-game set to look out for trouble.

But Robinson and Mets manager Willie Randolph, as well as players from both clubs, shrugged off questions about any lingering bad blood or whether what happened last week might affect the pitching this week.

There was, however, one prominently displayed reminder of the shenanigans at Shea Stadium. Someone ripped a page out of a New York tabloid with the headline "Old Brawl Game" and attached it to the greaseboard right outside the Nationals' clubhouse. Written below, in blue marker and all capital letters: "Strap it on!"

Still, no batter had to dive out of the way of an up-and-in heater. The only person who appeared to get nicked by a ball was plate umpire Brian O'Nora, when a foul tip bounced up and hit him below his mask.

Bannister was in control throughout, while Washington starter Ramon Ortiz (0-2) found himself in trouble repeatedly, giving up four runs and eight hits in six innings. Even Bannister got his first major league hit -- two, in fact.

The Mets scored twice each in the fourth and fifth, tacked on a run in the seventh on Jose Reyes' RBI triple and then added Beltran's two-run homer in the ninth off Rodriguez, who is appealing his suspension.

Paul Lo Duca had three hits and an RBI as the Mets outhit the Nationals 12-3. Aaron Heilman and Billy Wagner each threw a hitless inning in relief for New York, which improved to 5-1. Wagner walked three but escaped a bases-loaded jam.

Washington fell to 2-6, and the Nationals' first home game of their second season in the nation's capital since moving from Montreal was definitely diminished.

A year ago, there was a rush for tickets and a sellout. This time, the attendance was 40,530 at 46,382-seat RFK Stadium. There were large patches of empty seats when Vice President Dick Cheney strode out to mainly boos and scattered applause for the ceremonial first pitch. Last season, it was President Bush who did the honors. Last year, commissioner Bud Selig was at the game; this year, baseball's No. 2 official, Bob DuPuy, was in attendance.

"I'm not concerned about the crowd," DuPuy said. "With all that's gone on in the offseason, the doubts about the stadium for a while, and the fights and the arguments -- no one likes all of that. But what I am confident about is as we get a new owner in place, and as the young team improves on the field, and as we get the new stadium built, all of that will be forgotten about and this will be a terrific baseball market."

Notes

Bannister had a single and a double. ... The Nationals' seven-game streak with a homer is the franchise's longest since September 2004, when the Montreal Expos homered in nine consecutive games. ... Nationals 2B Jose Vidro went 0-for-4. He had at least one hit in all seven prior games.

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2006 Mets Schedule, Results, & Daily Recaps (Season Thread)

2006 Mets Schedule, Results, & Daily Recaps (Season Thread)

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