Expos 1, Mets 0

Saturday, April 10, 2004

San Juan, Puerto Rico - The Mets seem to have left their offense on the mainland. After mustering just three runs in Friday night's extra-innings win over Montreal last night, the Mets got just three hits last night, losing to the Expos 1-0.

The good news from the game was Al Leiter. Leiter pitched five shutout innings in his first start of the season, delayed a few days after he was hit in the face by a line drive in his final spring training start against the Florida Marlins last week. Leiter threw 97 pitches over those five innings, working deep into counts on most hitters, and having 28 pitches fouled off against him!

The Mets couldn't get anything going against starting pitcher John Patterson (1-0), making his first start for the Expos. The Expos weren't much better, scraping across a run in the seventh inning after a Brad Wilkerson double, followed by a 2-out RBI single by Peter Bergeron.

Jae Seo (0-1) gave up the run, making his first appearance for the Mets this season. Seo was called up when Scott Erickson was placed on the DL Thursday, after being bumped out of the number four spot in the rotation with a weak spring training.

The Mets couldn't have asked for a much better chance to win the game in the top of the ninth, trailing by just one run with Cliff Floyd, Mike Piazza, and Mike Cameron due up. But Expos closer Rocky Biddle retired those three batters on just five pitches, setting up today's rubber match at Hiram Bithorn Stadium at 1 o'clock.

Notes: The Mets announced New York sports stars Tom Seaver, Ed Kranepool, Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, and Emerson Boozer will all throw out ceremonial first pitches before the Mets' home opener at Shea Stadium tomorrow afternoon. The Mets will honor the 35th anniversary of the 1969 Mets, Jets, and Knicks, all championship winners that year...Hiram Bithorn Stadium has been reconfigured for this season's 22 games where it will host the Expos, with the outfield walls readjusted to the dimensions of Montreal's Olympic Stadium.

My take: Not quite sure what to take from this game. The Mets' offense has been shut down this series versus the Expos, but at least the starting and relief pitching has been much better. Both the pitching and hitting have shown flashes over the first 5 games, if the team can play a complete game night in and night out, this will be a fun year.