John Maine started strong with the best of his three outings this spring and five pitchers combined for the three-hitter. Maine did not allow a hit in his four innings, striking out three.
It was a good afternoon all around. Jose Reyes smacked a leadoff home run, Jose Valentin appeared capable at first base in his first game back from knee surgery and Angel Pagan continued to impress, this time hustling for a double on a blooper that dropped in front of the sliding centerfielder Nick Gorneault.Pagan never hesitated out of the batter's box. He was pushing for two the whole way and just beat the tag with a headfirst slide.
"That's how you make the ballclub -- with things like that," manager Willie Randolph said. "Your [batting] average is not going to make the team. Those type of plays are going to make the team."
Pagan has the average, too. He's batting a team-high .429 (15-for-35) and leads the Mets in hits and at-bats.
More good news. Randolph said afterward that Carlos Beltran is likely to start tomorrow at DH against the Red Sox and Carlos Delgado is expected to join him, returning to first base. It will mark Beltran's spring training debut and Delgado has not played since Feb. 28.
Here is the boxscore from today's game.
Comments (5)
Great win today. Let the kids play shold be the 08' mantra.
http://www.topix.com/mlb/new-york-mets/2008/03/let-the-mets-youth-movement-begin
Maine was great. His fastball was hitting 93 and the slider was "dropping of the table". He continues to mature and improve every game he pitches. I see a great season for him this year, and a nice contract extention after the season.
Greetings from sunny Southern California! I had to put some sun screen on today as the temps glided into the 80s. Flowers and trees are blooming. Spring is well underway. Life in Paradise is a dream.
Glad to see Ryan Church is back after that collision with Marlon.
That's more important than a spring box score. Mets should be fine this year, although trading for Juan Rivera, the Angels fifth outfielder would be a great move.
Finally, Joe Torre is enjoying wearing Dodger Blue and vicey versey. Blue should meet Amazins for NL crown,
Gotta guy and wash the car, boys and girls. So much to do in Paradise, so little time.
Hoo-ya!
David,
Are u related to John or Yoko Ono Lennon?
TCK
I only saw a couple of innings, but got to see 2 at bats by Reyes. I saw 2 popus that didn't look much different than he did in September.I hope that's not a sogn of things to come.