Baseball Etcetera...Cards win opener...Bonds homers twice
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by user Niteowl049
Baseball Notebook
Mets Defense Too Much For Cardinals in 6-1 Win
Every time the Cardinals seem to be on the verge of getting back in the game the Mets defense came up with the big play they needed. On a single to centerfield Carlos Beltran threw David Eckstein out at the plate after being sent home by third base coach Jose Oquendo. Usually a runner is allowed to score on that play to hold the runner to first base but Beltran saw he had a chance to throw him out at home so launched a perfect throw to Paul Lo Duca....Chris Carpenter bunted like he was supposed to in a squeeze play but the ball only went about three inches in front of home plate and Adam Kennedy was caught in a rundown and tagged out.
Mets came up with four double plays with the most important double play coming in the eighth when Scott Rolen batted with the bases loaded and ended the inning hitting into a double play.
Tom Glavine outpitched Chris Carpenter allowing 1 earned run in 6 innings and winning his 291st win of his career. He now has about 34 more starts to win 9 more games to become a 300 game winnner.
All of Mets starting lineup had at least one hit including Glavine. Lo Duca drove in 3 runs while Carlos Delgado drove in 2 to lead the offense for the Mets. David Eckstein led the Cardinals with 3 hits.
After a terrible spring when the Mets finished in last place in National League they showed they weren't going to carry that record into regular season with their win over the World Champion Cardinals.
Daily Roundup
Barry Bonds showed yesterday he is capable of passing Hank Aaron by hitting two homers in the 8-6 loss to the Athletics in the last exhibition game of the spring giving him 7. The way Bonds hit this spring is an indication that he could pass Aaron even sooner than expected. However, typical of games in which Bonds homers his team loses....Corey Koskie was placed on disabled list by Brewers for post concussion syndrome. He was hit in the head last July and still has not recovered saying when he lies down it feels like a boat is rocking. For him to still be having these symptoms nine months later casts serious doubt if he will even play this year at all.
Alex Gordon the No.2 pick for Royals in 2005 amateur draft will start the season with the team....John Danks has earned fifth spot in White Sox rotation after pitching well this spring. He has never appeared in a major league game but struck out 154 batters in 140 innings in the minors last season....Todd Walker and Travis Buck will start the season with the A's. Esteban Loaiza will start the season on the disabled list but could start a game for Sacramento as early as Thursday if he can throw without pain till then on the side.
Games to Watch Today
Yankees entertain the Devil Rays at 1:05 EDT on ESPN. Carl Pavano will be facing the worst team in AL in spring training in the Devil Rays so he is expected to win this game. If he loses this game it will cast doubt on whether he will be able to win against teams like Red Sox and Blue Jays.
Cubs play Reds at 2:10 EDT on ESPN. Will be first chance to see Alfonso Soriano in a Cubs uniform in a regular season game. Soriano may have problems playing centerfield at Wrigley Field if he was having problems adapting to the position in spring training.
Red Sox will be visiting the Royals at 4:10 EDT on ESPN and will like the Yankees be playing a last place team in their opener. Gil Meche the $11 million pitcher for Royals will get his first test of the season facing Curt Schilling and the Red Sox and will have to face J.D. Drew, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz in the heart of the order.
Orioles will be visiting the Twins at 7:05 EDT and will get a chance to see how their starting pitching does against one of the better hitting teams in AL. Orioles have their work cut out this season if they are to contend with Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays or they will be relegated to finishing fourth again in the AL East. Facing Johan Santana tonight possibly the best pitcher in baseball won't make that task any easier.
Rangers will be visiting the Angels at 10:05 EDT on ESPN. It will be first chance to see Sammy Sosa in a Rangers uniform this season.
