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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
HOUSTON (AP) -- The pitching matchup didn't look to be in the
Houston Astros' favor. Brian Powell changed that quickly.
Powell won for the first time in nearly two years and Richard
Hidalgo had a pair of RBI doubles off All-Star Al Leiter, leading
the Astros to a 9-3 victory over the New York Mets on Tuesday night.
"Brian did a great job but I didn't feel that great about the
matchup going in ... that just shows you how things look in the
beginning isn't always how the end up," Astros manager Larry
Dierker said. "You don't have to have a 95-mph fastball to be
effective."
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Mets activate Hamilton, designate
Matt Franco for assignment
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HOUSTON -- The Mets activated outfielder Darryl
Hamilton from the disabled list and designated infielder Matt
Franco for assignment following their 9-3 loss to the Astros.
"Mattie has been a good contributor off the bench, but we're
getting Darryl back and we had to make a move somewhere," Mets
general manager Steve Phillips said.
Hamilton played in five games for the Mets this season and was
hitting .133 when he was placed on the disabled list April 7 with a
sprained left foot. He underwent surgery May 9.
Hamilton hit .339 in 55 games with New York last season.
Franco, who played with the Mets the last five years, was
hitting .223 in 79 games this season.
"Darryl is ready and we had to do something," New York manager
Bobby Valentine said.
-- Associated Press
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Powell (1-0) allowed one run and five hits in seven innings to
win for the first time since Aug. 25, 1998, with Detroit against
Texas.
Powell spent last season with Houston's Triple-A New Orleans
affiliate and was called up Aug. 1 to replace injured starter Shane
Reynolds. He got a no-decision in his NL debut last week against
Florida.
"All you can do is the best that you can do and then they
(management) make all the decisions," Powell said. "I had to mix
in all my pitches. I don't have the fastball yet that I can blow by
people. I'm just trying to get back to that point."
Powell is still rounding back into shape from arthroscopic
shoulder surgery in June 1999.
"After the surgery it was like starting all over again,"
Powell said. "I just wanted to come back and have a strong outing
against a quality team and show that I can get people out."
The Astros scored three runs in the first inning off Leiter
(12-5) to give Powell the early lead. Leiter allowed six hits and
three earned runs over five innings.
"It's upsetting," Leiter said. "Obviously I didn't do my job
and give us an opportunity to win the game, but I'm not going to
dwell on it and think I stink as a pitcher. I'll just learn from my
mistakes."
Julio Lugo reached on shortstop Mike Bordick's throwing error,
leading off the inning, moved to second on Lance Berkman's walk and
scored on Jeff Bagwell's single. Hidalgo added an RBI double and
scored on Chris Truby's groundout.
Powell doubled and scored on Berkman's triple in the second
inning to give Houston a 4-0 lead.
Benny Agbayani drove in three runs for the Mets with a solo
homer in the sixth and a two-run single in the ninth. Bordick went
3-for-3 with two doubles for New York.
Hidalgo added an RBI double in the fifth. Leiter allowed five
runs -- three earned -- and six hits in five innings, his shortest
outing of the season.
"I felt great warming up, that's how I felt warming up against
St. Louis when I had my best stuff for the year," Leiter said.
"You're anticipating something great and then you're down 3-0 in
the first inning.
"Then you try to be perfect and nibble and when you do that it
gets tough."
Houston got three more runs in the sixth with help from a
bases-loaded walk and run-scoring wild pitch by Pat Mahomes.
"We showed a little spark at the end but that's too little, too
late," Mets manager Bobby Valentine said.
Jay Powell, out since June 18 with a strained right shoulder,
allowed Agbayani's hit in the ninth. Reliever Rick White, who
singled in the inning, made the second out when Berkman threw him
out from left field going from first to third.
Game notes
Houston's Tony Eusebio had two hits to continue his
career-high tying 13-game hitting streak. ... Berkman's second
inning triple was the first of his career. ... Leiter struck out a
season-low one batter. His previous low was three.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
NY Mets Clubhouse
Houston Clubhouse
RECAPS
Seattle 12
Chi. White Sox 4
Seattle 7
Chi. White Sox 5
(2nd game)
Texas 11
Cleveland 2
Detroit 4
Baltimore 1
NY Yankees 4
Oakland 3
Tampa Bay 5
Minnesota 0
Toronto 6
Kansas City 1
Anaheim 2
Boston 1
Atlanta 5
Cincinnati 4
Philadelphia 10
San Diego 4
Houston 9
NY Mets 3
Florida 7
St. Louis 0
Colorado 6
Pittsburgh 1
Montreal 9
Arizona 3
Los Angeles 7
Chicago Cubs 5
San Francisco 1
Milwaukee 0
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