Baseball Guru
05-24-2003, 06:11 AM
By KEITH PARSONS, AP Sports Writer
May 23, 2003
ATLANTA (AP) -- First, New York Mets manager Art Howe shuffled his outfield in the late innings. Then, with the tying run on second, he pulled them in a little bit closer.
Both moves worked perfectly.
Center fielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo threw out Chipper Jones at the plate for the final out Friday night to preserve New York's 6-5 victory over the Atlanta Braves. Jeromy Burnitz hit a grand slam for the Mets in his first game back from the disabled list.
``Shinjo made a great play,'' Braves manager Bobby Cox said. ``He saved the game.''
Armando Benitez walked two batters with two outs in the ninth, and Julio Franco grounded a single to center.
Shinjo, who entered as a defensive replacement in the eighth, charged hard and made a perfect, one-hop throw home. Catcher Vance Wilson tagged a sliding Jones and pumped his fist as he jumped to his feet.
``I had never done this play before in my entire career, making the final play of the game at home plate,'' Shinjo said through an interpreter. ``I was trying to hit home plate. When I released the ball, I just prayed.''
After Jones moved to second on a balk by Benitez, he noticed how shallow Shinjo was playing in center. Andruw Jones then walked, putting the winning on run on first, and Chipper Jones thought the outfield might move back a bit.
No such luck.
``Let me tell you something, I could have been standing on third base and I'd still have been thrown out,'' Chipper Jones said. ``I knew it was going to be tight at home plate. I was just hoping they would drop the ball or something.
``The ball beat me so badly. He had it secure.''
Roger Cedeno and Wilson added two hits apiece for the Mets, who have won five of six after a four-game losing streak. Steve Trachsel (3-2) won his third straight start, and Benitez earned his 14th save in 18 chances -- and ninth in a row.
``Benitez asked what I wanted him to do for me for bailing him out, and I said he could give me a massage,'' Shinjo quipped.
Tom Glavine makes his first start against his former team Saturday, facing Braves lefty Horacio Ramirez.
Burnitz had been out since breaking his hand April 22, when he was hit by a pitch from Houston closer Billy Wagner. He started in center field for the first time this season and highlighted a six-run sixth inning with his fourth homer of the season.
Gary Sheffield, the leading hitter in the National League, went 2-for-5 for the Braves, including a solo home run in the seventh that cut the lead to 6-5. His average improved to .358.
Russ Ortiz (6-3) lost for the first time in eight starts. He cruised into the sixth in this one, retiring 14 straight at one point before he ran into trouble.
Cedeno, who doubled to lead off the game, hit a one-out double in the sixth. He scored on a double down the right-field line by Ty Wigginton, who came home on a single to right by Roberto Alomar.
An intentional walk to Cliff Floyd, followed by an unintentional one to Jason Phillips, loaded the bases. Atlanta pitching coach Leo Mazzone made a brief visit to Ortiz, but Burnitz hit the next pitch 384 feet into the seats in left, giving the Mets a 6-1 lead.
It was his seventh career slam, and first since Sept. 26, 2001, for Milwaukee.
``Just two years?'' Burnitz asked when told of his last one. ``It seems like forever. Grand slams are good.''
That finished Ortiz, who left after 5 1-3 innings. He gave up six runs on six hits.
``Man, it was just a real struggle to throw the ball where I wanted to,'' Ortiz said. ``Basically, I just lost control of the baseball. All the pitches were pretty much down the middle.''
Javy Lopez gave Atlanta a 1-0 lead with a solo shot in the fifth, his third homer in two games. He drove a 2-0 fastball from Trachsel to left for his 11th home run of the year, matching last year's total.
Atlanta got to 6-4 in the sixth on a bases-loaded walk by Vinny Castilla and a two-run single by pinch-hitter Mark DeRosa. But reliever Pat Strange, who entered with an ERA of 23.63, struck out Giles on three pitches to end the rally.
Trachsel went 5 2-3 innings and allowed four runs on six hits.
Notes
Burnitz's last grand slam came against Arizona. The day before, he and then-teammate Richie Sexson hit three home runs apiece, the first teammates to do that. ... To make room for Burnitz, the Mets sent OF Jeff Duncan back to Double-A Binghamton. ... The announced attendance of 33,270 was thethird-largest of the season.
May 23, 2003
ATLANTA (AP) -- First, New York Mets manager Art Howe shuffled his outfield in the late innings. Then, with the tying run on second, he pulled them in a little bit closer.
Both moves worked perfectly.
Center fielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo threw out Chipper Jones at the plate for the final out Friday night to preserve New York's 6-5 victory over the Atlanta Braves. Jeromy Burnitz hit a grand slam for the Mets in his first game back from the disabled list.
``Shinjo made a great play,'' Braves manager Bobby Cox said. ``He saved the game.''
Armando Benitez walked two batters with two outs in the ninth, and Julio Franco grounded a single to center.
Shinjo, who entered as a defensive replacement in the eighth, charged hard and made a perfect, one-hop throw home. Catcher Vance Wilson tagged a sliding Jones and pumped his fist as he jumped to his feet.
``I had never done this play before in my entire career, making the final play of the game at home plate,'' Shinjo said through an interpreter. ``I was trying to hit home plate. When I released the ball, I just prayed.''
After Jones moved to second on a balk by Benitez, he noticed how shallow Shinjo was playing in center. Andruw Jones then walked, putting the winning on run on first, and Chipper Jones thought the outfield might move back a bit.
No such luck.
``Let me tell you something, I could have been standing on third base and I'd still have been thrown out,'' Chipper Jones said. ``I knew it was going to be tight at home plate. I was just hoping they would drop the ball or something.
``The ball beat me so badly. He had it secure.''
Roger Cedeno and Wilson added two hits apiece for the Mets, who have won five of six after a four-game losing streak. Steve Trachsel (3-2) won his third straight start, and Benitez earned his 14th save in 18 chances -- and ninth in a row.
``Benitez asked what I wanted him to do for me for bailing him out, and I said he could give me a massage,'' Shinjo quipped.
Tom Glavine makes his first start against his former team Saturday, facing Braves lefty Horacio Ramirez.
Burnitz had been out since breaking his hand April 22, when he was hit by a pitch from Houston closer Billy Wagner. He started in center field for the first time this season and highlighted a six-run sixth inning with his fourth homer of the season.
Gary Sheffield, the leading hitter in the National League, went 2-for-5 for the Braves, including a solo home run in the seventh that cut the lead to 6-5. His average improved to .358.
Russ Ortiz (6-3) lost for the first time in eight starts. He cruised into the sixth in this one, retiring 14 straight at one point before he ran into trouble.
Cedeno, who doubled to lead off the game, hit a one-out double in the sixth. He scored on a double down the right-field line by Ty Wigginton, who came home on a single to right by Roberto Alomar.
An intentional walk to Cliff Floyd, followed by an unintentional one to Jason Phillips, loaded the bases. Atlanta pitching coach Leo Mazzone made a brief visit to Ortiz, but Burnitz hit the next pitch 384 feet into the seats in left, giving the Mets a 6-1 lead.
It was his seventh career slam, and first since Sept. 26, 2001, for Milwaukee.
``Just two years?'' Burnitz asked when told of his last one. ``It seems like forever. Grand slams are good.''
That finished Ortiz, who left after 5 1-3 innings. He gave up six runs on six hits.
``Man, it was just a real struggle to throw the ball where I wanted to,'' Ortiz said. ``Basically, I just lost control of the baseball. All the pitches were pretty much down the middle.''
Javy Lopez gave Atlanta a 1-0 lead with a solo shot in the fifth, his third homer in two games. He drove a 2-0 fastball from Trachsel to left for his 11th home run of the year, matching last year's total.
Atlanta got to 6-4 in the sixth on a bases-loaded walk by Vinny Castilla and a two-run single by pinch-hitter Mark DeRosa. But reliever Pat Strange, who entered with an ERA of 23.63, struck out Giles on three pitches to end the rally.
Trachsel went 5 2-3 innings and allowed four runs on six hits.
Notes
Burnitz's last grand slam came against Arizona. The day before, he and then-teammate Richie Sexson hit three home runs apiece, the first teammates to do that. ... To make room for Burnitz, the Mets sent OF Jeff Duncan back to Double-A Binghamton. ... The announced attendance of 33,270 was thethird-largest of the season.