A healthy Orlando Hernandez can be a very good thing for the Mets. El Duque pitched seven strong innings against the Cardinals on Tuesday and contributed two hits, including a two-run double, as the Mets won their second straight game to start the season. Jose Reyes scored the first two Mets runs.
Kip Wells looked sharp against the Mets, but two of his four runs allowed were unearned because of an error, and except for Scott Rolen's solo home run in the seventh frame, the Cardinals' bats were silent during their second straight defeat to start 2007.
BATTING 2B: Hernandez, O (1, Wells). TB: Reyes; Beltran; Delgado; Wright; Hernandez, O 3; Chavez, E. RBI: Beltran (2), Hernandez, O 2 (2). 2-out RBI: Hernandez, O 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Green; Beltran. S: Lo Duca. SF: Beltran. Team LOB: 7.
BASERUNNING SB: Beltran (1, 2nd base off Wells/Molina, Y), Reyes (1, 2nd base off Wells/Molina, Y).
FIELDING DP: 3 (Hernandez, O-Reyes-Delgado 2, Valentin, Jo-Reyes-Delgado). Pickoffs: Hernandez, O (Rolen at 1st base).
a-Singled for Wells in the 6th. b-Grounded out for Schumaker in the 8th. c-Flied out for Edmonds in the 9th. d-Flied out for Springer in the 9th.
BATTING 2B: Pujols (1, Hernandez, O). HR: Rolen (1, 7th inning off Hernandez, O, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Duncan 2; Pujols 2; Rolen 4; Edmonds; Spiezio. RBI: Rolen (1). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Rolen; Duncan; Pujols. GIDP: Duncan; Kennedy; Eckstein. Team LOB: 5.
BASERUNNING SB: Eckstein (1, 2nd base off Hernandez, O/Lo Duca). CS: Rolen (1, 2nd base by Hernandez, O/Lo Duca). PO: Rolen (1st base by Hernandez, O).
FIELDING E: Wells (1, pickoff), Schumaker (1, fielding). Outfield assists: Duncan (Valentin, Jo at home), Edmonds (Delgado at 2nd base). DP: (Edmonds-Miles).