|
|
|
|
 |
|
Scores Schedules Standings Statistics Transactions Injuries: AL | NL Players Weekly Lineup Message Board Minor Leagues MLB Stat Search Clubhouses |
| Sport Sections |
|
|
| |
Saturday, Sep. 30 1:25pm ET
Mets fine-tune with a restful win | |||||
|
| ||||||
|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME LOG
NEW YORK (AP) -- Jorge Toca delivered a clutch hit and became the latest hero for the New York Mets. Toca, a late-season callup, hit a three-run double in the eighth inning to lead the Mets to a 4-2 victory over the Montreal Expos on Saturday. "I was just looking for something that I can put my bat on, something that I was comfortable with so I could bring in a run," Toca said through an interpreter. "I was just trying to focus and try to make something happen -- a sacrifice or something to score the runners." Center fielder Jay Payton was the only starter to play all nine innings as the Mets won their fourth in a row. Manager Bobby Valentine emptied his bench, using 17 of 19 available position players, as the NL wild card winners prepare for the playoffs. The Mets will open the best-of-5 first round Wednesday at San Francisco. The Giants were 5-3 against New York this season. "San Francisco has done a super job and they have a solid lineup," Mets general manager Steve Phillips said. "Their young pitchers have developed extremely well this year." Toca, whose three RBIs were a career high, hit a drive off Javier Vazquez into the gap in left-center field, prompting chants of "Toca! Toca!" from the Shea Stadium crowd. "For Jorge, it was a pressure situation," Valentine said. "He wanted it badly and hit one in the gap. Good for him." Toca, who was also called up by the Mets late last season, isn't sure if he'll make the postseason roster. But he is doing his best to make a good impression. "Right now, I'm just trying to contribute," Toca said. "If they leave me on the playoff roster, then good. If not, then I'll prepare for next year." Vazquez (11-9) cruised through the first seven innings, allowing just one run on five hits. But Bubba Trammell walked to lead off the Mets eighth and pinch-hitter Lenny Harris singled. Joe McEwing sacrificed, and Todd Pratt was intentionally walked to load the bases to set up Toca's hit. "I've faced Vazquez before in Puerto Rico, and he always pitches me the same way, so i was prepared to wait for a good pitch," Toca said. "Vazquez threw a number of breaking balls in a row," Expos manager Felipe Alou said. "He finally hung one, and Toca hit it." Turk Wendell (8-6) pitched a scoreless eighth to pick up the victory. Armando Benitez pitched the ninth for his 41st save in 46 opportunities. Jose Vidro gave the Expos a 1-0 lead in the second inning with a home run into the picnic area in left-center field off Glendon Rusch. Vidro's 24th homer was his 200th hit of the season. Montreal took a 2-0 lead on Michael Barrett's RBI single in the fifth. Mike Mordecai hit a leadoff double down the left-field line and Barrett followed with a single. The Mets got a run back in the fifth when Payton doubled and pinch-hitter Matt Franco singled to right. Vladimir Guerrero bare-handed the ball and threw home, but Payton beat the throw to make it 2-1. Rusch, looking to earn a spot in the postseason starting rotation, allowed two runs, four hits, struck out two and walked one in five innings. "I felt all right," Rusch said. "I struggled with my location quite a bit, and hopefully this was a good tune-up for me. I took the mound today like I would for any other start during the season." Vazquez allowed four runs, seven hits, and walked four in 7 1-3 innings as the Expos lost their season-high eighth straight. "I was disappointed," Vazquez said. "I thought I was going to win the game, but what can you do?" Game notesAl Leiter, the Mets' possible Game 1 starter Wednesday against San Francisco, will skip his scheduled start Sunday. Rick Reed will start instead, and pitch just two innings, Valentine said after the game. ... Valentine and Phillips remained non-committal on announcing the Game 1 starter, as well as the team's rotation and 25-man roster. ... Mets OF Timoniel Perez hit a leadoff single in the first, but left after experiencing tightness in his right hamstring while running to third on Derek Bell's groundout. Perez is day-to-day. ... The only Mets position players who didn't play were OF Benny Agbayani, who is nursing a sore hamstring, and C Vance Wilson. ... OF Brian Cole was selected the Mets' organizational player of the year, and RHP Pat Strange the pitcher of the year. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Montreal Clubhouse NY Mets Clubhouse RECAPS Cleveland 6 Toronto 5
NY Mets 4
| |||||