NEW YORK - David Wright dropped an RBI double in front of diving right fielder Travis Buck in the ninth inning, giving the New York Mets a 1-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday night.
Orlando Hernandez and Oakland starter Joe Blanton matched zeros most of the way in a tight game that included an equipment-throwing tirade by New York catcher Paul Lo Duca.
Ramon Castro, who batted for Lo Duca after he was ejected in the sixth, started the decisive rally to help the NL East leaders win consecutive games for the first time since May 27 and 29 against Florida and San Francisco.
By taking the first two against the A's, New York has finally won a series after losing six straight since winning two of three games against the Giants from May 29-31.
The Mets won for only the fifth time in 18 games overall and improved to 6-14 in June. In their six wins, they have allowed three runs total. New York is 0-14 this month when allowing two runs or more.
Making its first trip to Shea Stadium since beating the Mets in the 1973 World Series, Oakland was hurt by its failure to hit in the clutch - a season-long trend. The A's went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position after entering with a .227 average in such situations, the worst mark in the majors.
Oakland stranded 10 runners in all, eight against El Duque. The A's have lost five of seven.
Castro opened the ninth with a double off Santiago Casilla (2-1). Carlos Beltran was intentionally walked, and Wright hit a looper to right field. Buck, playing deep out of respect for Wright's opposite-field power, came in and tried to make a diving catch. But he came up short and the ball bounced past him.
Buck started the game in left field and threw out a runner at the plate in the sixth. He was moved to right in the eighth when Shannon Stewart came in.
Billy Wagner (1-0) worked a scoreless ninth for the win.
Lo Duca was ejected for arguing a strike call in the sixth, prompting a tirade that ended with most of his catching gear on the field.
The fiery Lo Duca came to bat with two runners on. After taking an inside strike that made the count 0-2, he got in Marvin Hudson's face and barked at the plate umpire, gesturing vehemently with his hand.
After making his point, Lo Duca walked slightly up the third-base line, gathered himself and prepared to get back in the batter's box. That's when Hudson ejected him, sending Lo Duca into a rage.
His bulging eyes wide with anger, Lo Duca screamed at Hudson before Mets manager Willie Randolph tried to restrain him. Lo Duca grabbed Randolph by the sleeve, nudged him aside and went right back at Hudson.
Crew chief Ed Montague came down from first base and finally ushered Lo Duca away. As Randolph continued the argument with Hudson, Lo Duca walked to the dugout and heaved his helmet, bat and elbow guard toward first base.
Once he reached the bench, Lo Duca tossed his shin guards into foul territory. He chucked his chest protector, too, but that got hung up on the dugout railing. Finally, he retreated up the tunnel toward the clubhouse with the Shea Stadium crowd of 52,920 chanting “Paul Lo Duca! Paul Lo Duca!”
After a delay of several minutes, Castro entered as a pinch hitter for Lo Duca and struck out on the next pitch from Blanton. Beltran then singled to left, but Buck's accurate throw cut down Ricky Ledee on a close play at the plate, drawing more boos directed at Hudson.
Hernandez lost his previous two starts, giving up 10 earned runs over 10 1-3 innings against the Dodgers and Yankees. But he was masterful in this one, going slow and then slower with some of his big breaking balls. He even struck out cleanup batter Eric Chavez on an eephus pitch in the sixth.
Randolph visited Hernandez when Mark Kotsay came up with two on in the seventh. But the right-hander fanned Kotsay with his 119th and final pitch.
Hernandez yielded six hits and one walk, striking out seven. It was the fourth time in seven starts he's pitched shutout ball and gotten a no-decision.
Blanton was even better, lasting eight innings. He allowed five hits and a walk with six strikeouts to lower his June ERA to 1.14 in five starts, the best mark in the majors this month.
Notes: Mets SS Jose Reyes went 0-for-3 with a walk, ending his 12-game hitting streak. ... The A's had homered in a season-best 12 straight games (18 total). ... Hernandez is 5-0 with a 2.35 ERA in nine career starts against the A's, though he hadn't faced them since August 2002 with the Yankees.
Ramon Castro, who batted for Lo Duca after he was ejected in the sixth, started the decisive rally to help the NL East leaders win consecutive games for the first time since May 27 and 29 against Florida and San Francisco.
By taking the first two against the A's, New York has finally won a series after losing six straight since winning two of three games against the Giants from May 29-31.
The Mets won for only the fifth time in 18 games overall and improved to 6-14 in June. In their six wins, they have allowed three runs total. New York is 0-14 this month when allowing two runs or more.
Making its first trip to Shea Stadium since beating the Mets in the 1973 World Series, Oakland was hurt by its failure to hit in the clutch - a season-long trend. The A's went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position after entering with a .227 average in such situations, the worst mark in the majors.
Oakland stranded 10 runners in all, eight against El Duque. The A's have lost five of seven.
Castro opened the ninth with a double off Santiago Casilla (2-1). Carlos Beltran was intentionally walked, and Wright hit a looper to right field. Buck, playing deep out of respect for Wright's opposite-field power, came in and tried to make a diving catch. But he came up short and the ball bounced past him.
Buck started the game in left field and threw out a runner at the plate in the sixth. He was moved to right in the eighth when Shannon Stewart came in.
Billy Wagner (1-0) worked a scoreless ninth for the win.
Lo Duca was ejected for arguing a strike call in the sixth, prompting a tirade that ended with most of his catching gear on the field.
The fiery Lo Duca came to bat with two runners on. After taking an inside strike that made the count 0-2, he got in Marvin Hudson's face and barked at the plate umpire, gesturing vehemently with his hand.
After making his point, Lo Duca walked slightly up the third-base line, gathered himself and prepared to get back in the batter's box. That's when Hudson ejected him, sending Lo Duca into a rage.
His bulging eyes wide with anger, Lo Duca screamed at Hudson before Mets manager Willie Randolph tried to restrain him. Lo Duca grabbed Randolph by the sleeve, nudged him aside and went right back at Hudson.
Crew chief Ed Montague came down from first base and finally ushered Lo Duca away. As Randolph continued the argument with Hudson, Lo Duca walked to the dugout and heaved his helmet, bat and elbow guard toward first base.
Once he reached the bench, Lo Duca tossed his shin guards into foul territory. He chucked his chest protector, too, but that got hung up on the dugout railing. Finally, he retreated up the tunnel toward the clubhouse with the Shea Stadium crowd of 52,920 chanting “Paul Lo Duca! Paul Lo Duca!”
After a delay of several minutes, Castro entered as a pinch hitter for Lo Duca and struck out on the next pitch from Blanton. Beltran then singled to left, but Buck's accurate throw cut down Ricky Ledee on a close play at the plate, drawing more boos directed at Hudson.
Hernandez lost his previous two starts, giving up 10 earned runs over 10 1-3 innings against the Dodgers and Yankees. But he was masterful in this one, going slow and then slower with some of his big breaking balls. He even struck out cleanup batter Eric Chavez on an eephus pitch in the sixth.
Randolph visited Hernandez when Mark Kotsay came up with two on in the seventh. But the right-hander fanned Kotsay with his 119th and final pitch.
Hernandez yielded six hits and one walk, striking out seven. It was the fourth time in seven starts he's pitched shutout ball and gotten a no-decision.
Blanton was even better, lasting eight innings. He allowed five hits and a walk with six strikeouts to lower his June ERA to 1.14 in five starts, the best mark in the majors this month.
Notes: Mets SS Jose Reyes went 0-for-3 with a walk, ending his 12-game hitting streak. ... The A's had homered in a season-best 12 straight games (18 total). ... Hernandez is 5-0 with a 2.35 ERA in nine career starts against the A's, though he hadn't faced them since August 2002 with the Yankees.
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