Game 141: Mets vs. Dodgers @ Shea Stadium

Today's Saturday matinee would pit Orlando Hernandez against 300 game winner Greg Maddux. Both pitchers would start off strong in th first couple of innings. El Duque allowing only a leadoff double to Rafael Furcal and Maddux allowing consecutive hits to the Mets Carlos Delgado (a line drive home run to right - his 37th) and David Wright (a seeing eye single to right). Hernandez would then retire 15 consecutive batters before allowing two runs in the sixth inning. Jose Valentin would deliver a double in the bottom of the sixth and Beltran would be walked, ending Maddux's day. Brett Tomko would come on later in the inning and David Wright would come through with a two-out, two rbi single to put the Mets ahead 3-2. After stranding a few runners for a couple of innings, Billy Wagner would come on and make it interesting. However, he would strike out Olmedo Saenz for the second out and Kelly Stinnett would gun out the runner on first to end the game.
Final Score: Mets 3, Dodgers 2. Record: 88-53. Magic Number: 5.

Notes: Prior to today's game, Pedro Martinez threw a four inning simulated game. Kelly Stinnett got his first hit for the Mets since 1995. Jose Reyes was given an error on what was obviously a hit in the sixth inning. While being caught in a run down between third and home, Maddux would shove El Duque during the tag. It was probably in return for El Duque stopping in the middle of the baseline in order to make Maddux throw during a sac bunt earlier. Lastings Milledge would reach on a Jeff Kent error in the seventh inning and immediately get picked off.