Home Away From Home: 9-4 Win

Marty Noble at Mets.com, writes about the Mets 9 to 4 win over the Diamondbacks:

So dominant had the Mets been here that when the D-backs scored in the second inning on Thursday night, it marked their first lead in this park against the Mets in 80 innings. "I wasn't aware of all that," Easley said. "I knew it was bad."

The Mets might never had had the chance to erupt if not for an error by Easley's close friend Tony Clark. Shawn Green reached base on an error at first base by Clark after losing pitcher Jose Valverde had retired the first batter. Lo Duca, down 0-2 in the count to the D-backs closer, worked a walk that appeared to unnerve Valverde. And when Valverde (0-2) fell behind 2-0 on Easley, the Hit Man sensed the next pitch would be fastball with a lot of the plate.

"Name or no name," Lo Duca said, "he hits the ball as hard as anyone. That's why the name fit so well."

Easley hit this one to left-center field, for his third homer, his first game winner, his second game saver. He had hit one in the 10th inning to tie the score against the Rockies at Shea on April 24.

A walk to pinch-hitter Julio Franco, a single by Jose Reyes, a pitching change -- Dustin Nippert replaced Valverde -- followed before Wright hit his second home run of the season -- and the week. The boat race was over.

The six runs came too late to fuel Glavine's push to 300, but they made a winning pitcher of beleaguered Aaron Heilman (2-2) and spared Glavine his 193rd loss. He had surrendered a home run to Orlando Hudson in the sixth that came a half inning after Carlos Beltran had tied the score with his seventh home run, against rookie Micah Owings, a Georgia-born, Glavine devotee. It was the sixth home run allowed by Glavine this season in what now is 41 1/3 innings. He had four other hits and walked none.

Glavine had prospered against the Diamondbacks entering Thursday, winning 10 of 13 decisions against them and eight of nine in desert.

"I usually pitch well here and almost did tonight," Glavine said. "But it is a hitters' park."

"It's got a great hitters' backdrop, the ball carries well and they keep the grass short," Lo Duca said. "It's made for our team."

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