Mets get a roaring start
Johan Santana started earning his $137.5 million yesterday, fooling batters and sprinting for grounders in a three-hit performance during the Mets’ 7-2 win yesterday.
While the new ace stood tall for seven innings, the Mets’ offense was mostly quiet except for a tour-de-force rip through 10 at bats at the top of the fourth.
The opposing pitcher was 6-foot-9 former NBA player Mark Hendrickson.
The Mets' six-run pileup began with a sharply hit ball to left from the bat of Carlos Beltran, who reached second base easily. Carlos Delgado, effective even without a hit in three at bats yesterday, then discriminated through five pitches to earn a base on balls.
Beltran chugged home when Angel Pagan laced a curving liner down the third base line and Delgado scored when Ryan Church singled to right. Catcher Brian Schnieder and Santana then came up and went down for the first two outs of the inning.
That left leadoff man Jose Reyes with a two-out challenge. The shortstop answered with a single to left that scored Pagan. Luis Castillo then walked to load the bases and open the way for David Wright’s three-run double.
It ended where it began — with Beltran, who lined out to center field top end the volcanic inning.
Things fell into place for the Mets on opening day.
— Max
