GAME THREAD: NL: NY METS (61-47) at CHICAGO CUBS (57-50)

NL: NY METS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JOSE REYES SCORED RUBEN GOTAY.
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, J REYES ON FIRST, M ALOU ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY METS 6
CHICAGO CUBS 2 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR NY METS: D NEWHAN (.203, 0-FOR-3, 2 BB)</div>

 

NL: NY METS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
NY METS 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 4 6 9 1
CHICAGO CUBS 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 6 0 (BOT 9)

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYM - GUILLERMO MOTA (OUT)
CHN - RYAN DEMPSTER

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: C FLOYD (.291, 0-FOR-3)
M DEROSA (.288, 1-FOR-3)
J JONES (.245, 1-FOR-3)</div>

 

NL: NY METS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NY METS (6) VS CHICAGO CUBS (2) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS

NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Reyes ss 5 0 1 1 1 0 0 .303
D Newhan lf 4 1 0 0 2 2 4 .200
D Wright 3b 3 1 1 0 2 1 1 .304
C Delgado 1b 1 1 1 1 4 0 0 .251
M Anderson cf 5 0 1 1 0 2 6 .246
R Castro c 5 1 1 1 0 2 3 .300
S Green rf 4 1 1 1 1 1 0 .270
R Gotay 2b 4 1 2 1 1 2 2 .352
O Hernandez p 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .184
P Feliciano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-D Easley ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
G Mota p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-M Alou ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .311

Totals 36 6 9 6 11 11 17

a-grounded to shortstop for P Feliciano in the 8th; b-singled to center for G
Mota in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - R Gotay (8, B Howry); C Delgado (25, R Dempster); S Green (24, R
Dempster). HR - R Castro (9, 6th inning off C Zambrano 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - R
Castro (27), M Anderson (12), C Delgado (60), S Green (31), R Gotay (20), J
Reyes (44). 2-out RBI - M Anderson, S Green, R Gotay, J Reyes. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - M Anderson 3, D Newhan 3, R Castro 1, R Gotay 1. Team
LOB - 14.

BASERUNNING: SB - D Newhan (2, 2nd base off C Marmol/J Kendall), J Reyes (52,
2nd base off B Howry/J Kendall).

FIELDING: E - R Castro (2, throw).


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .299
R Theriot ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
D Lee 1b 4 1 2 1 0 1 0 .330
A Ramirez 3b 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .318
C Floyd rf 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 .291
M DeRosa 2b 3 1 1 0 0 1 0 .288
J Jones cf 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 .245
J Kendall c 2 0 1 1 1 1 1 .243
C Zambrano p 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .281
C Marmol p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-M Fontenot ph 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
b-M Murton ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .256
B Howry p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R Dempster p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 30 2 6 2 1 10 8

a-hit for C Zambrano in the 7th; b-struck out swinging for M Fontenot in the
7th.

BATTING: 2B - J Jones (19, O Hernandez); A Ramirez (24, O Hernandez); J Kendall
(3, O Hernandez). HR - D Lee (12, 6th inning off O Hernandez 0 on, 2 Out). RBI
- D Lee (58), J Kendall (4). 2-out RBI - D Lee, J Kendall. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - C Floyd 1, A Ramirez 1, A Soriano 1, M Murton 1. Team
LOB - 5.

BASERUNNING: SB - D Lee (5, 2nd base off G Mota/R Castro).


----------------------------------------------------
NY METS - 000 001 104 -- 6
CHICAGO CUBS - 000 001 10 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era
O Hernandez 6 2/3 5 2 2 1 9 1 3.00
P Feliciano 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.90
G Mota 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.84

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Zambrano 5 2 1 1 7 5 1 3.42
C Marmol 2 1 1 1 2 4 0 1.73
B Howry 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 4.02
R Dempster 1 5 4 4 1 1 0 3.76

C Zambrano pitched to 1 batter in the 6th.

IBB - C Delgado (by C Marmol), J Reyes (by B Howry). Pitches-strikes: O
Hernandez 109-67; P Feliciano 5-3; G Mota 16-9; C Zambrano 94-49; C Marmol
34-20; B Howry 30-21; R Dempster 26-17. Ground balls-fly balls: O Hernandez
3-8; P Feliciano 0-0; G Mota 0-3; C Zambrano 7-3; C Marmol 1-1; B Howry 2-0; R
Dempster 0-2. Batters faced: O Hernandez 26; P Feliciano 1; G Mota 4; C
Zambrano 24; C Marmol 9; B Howry 5; R Dempster 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Paul Schrieber. 1B--Tim Mcclelland. 2B--Marty Foster.
3B--Fieldin Culbreth.

Weather: 77 degrees, sunny. Wind: 16 mph, in from right.</div>

 

NL: NY METS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: L Castillo at second base.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: NY METS 6
CHICAGO CUBS 2 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: C Floyd (.291, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

NL: NY METS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - PITCHING CHANGE
NYM: BILLY WAGNER (1-0, 1.36) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: NY METS 6, CHICAGO CUBS 2

DUE UP FOR CHCUBS: C FLOYD (.291, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

NL: NY METS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL AT CHICAGO CUBS - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: B Wagner relieved G Mota.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: NY METS 6
CHICAGO CUBS 2 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: C Floyd (.291, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

NL: NY METS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
NY METS 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 4 6 9 1
CHICAGO CUBS 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 8 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: NYM - ORLANDO HERNANDEZ, PEDRO FELICIANO (7TH), GUILLERMO MOTA
(8TH), BILLY WAGNER (9TH) AND RAMON CASTRO

CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO, CARLOS MARMOL (6TH), BOBBY HOWRY
(8TH), RYAN DEMPSTER (9TH) AND JASON KENDALL

HOME RUNS: NYM - RAMON CASTRO (9) OFF CARLOS ZAMBRANO IN THE 6TH, 0 ON

CHN - DERREK LEE (12) OFF ORLANDO HERNANDEZ IN THE 6TH, 0 ON</div>

 

Re: NL: NY METS (61-47) at CHICAGO CUBS (57-50)

That was a great game. Good start to the series.

 

NL: NY METS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NY METS (6) VS CHICAGO CUBS (2) - FINAL

NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Reyes ss 5 0 1 1 1 0 0 .303
D Newhan lf 4 1 0 0 2 2 4 .200
D Wright 3b 3 1 1 0 2 1 1 .304
C Delgado 1b 1 1 1 1 4 0 0 .251
M Anderson cf 5 0 1 1 0 2 6 .246
R Castro c 5 1 1 1 0 2 3 .300
S Green rf 4 1 1 1 1 1 0 .270
R Gotay 2b 4 1 2 1 1 2 2 .352
L Castillo 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125
O Hernandez p 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .184
P Feliciano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-D Easley ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
G Mota p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-M Alou ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .311
B Wagner p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 36 6 9 6 11 11 17

a-grounded to shortstop for P Feliciano in the 8th; b-singled to center for G
Mota in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - R Gotay (8, B Howry); C Delgado (25, R Dempster); S Green (24, R
Dempster). HR - R Castro (9, 6th inning off C Zambrano 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - R
Castro (27), M Anderson (12), C Delgado (60), S Green (31), R Gotay (20), J
Reyes (44). 2-out RBI - M Anderson, S Green, R Gotay, J Reyes. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - M Anderson 3, D Newhan 3, R Castro 1, R Gotay 1. Team
LOB - 14.

BASERUNNING: SB - D Newhan (2, 2nd base off C Marmol/J Kendall), J Reyes (52,
2nd base off B Howry/J Kendall).

FIELDING: E - R Castro (2, throw). DP: 1 (J Reyes-C Delgado).


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .299
R Theriot ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
D Lee 1b 4 1 2 1 0 1 0 .330
A Ramirez 3b 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .318
C Floyd rf 4 0 1 0 0 2 1 .294
M DeRosa 2b 4 1 2 0 0 1 0 .290
J Jones cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .245
J Kendall c 3 0 1 1 1 1 2 .237
C Zambrano p 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .281
C Marmol p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-M Fontenot ph 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
b-M Murton ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .256
B Howry p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R Dempster p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 34 2 8 2 1 10 10

a-hit for C Zambrano in the 7th; b-struck out swinging for M Fontenot in the
7th.

BATTING: 2B - J Jones (19, O Hernandez); A Ramirez (24, O Hernandez); J Kendall
(3, O Hernandez). HR - D Lee (12, 6th inning off O Hernandez 0 on, 2 Out). RBI
- D Lee (58), J Kendall (4). 2-out RBI - D Lee, J Kendall. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - J Kendall 1, C Floyd 1, A Ramirez 1, A Soriano 1, M
Murton 1. GIDP - J Jones. Team LOB - 6.

BASERUNNING: SB - D Lee (5, 2nd base off G Mota/R Castro).


----------------------------------------------------
NY METS - 000 001 104 -- 6
CHICAGO CUBS - 000 001 100 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era
O Hernandez 6 2/3 5 2 2 1 9 1 3.00
P Feliciano 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.90
G Mota (W, 1-0) 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.84
B Wagner 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1.33

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Zambrano 5 2 1 1 7 5 1 3.42
C Marmol 2 1 1 1 2 4 0 1.73
B Howry 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 4.02
R Dempster (L, 2-4) 1 5 4 4 1 1 0 3.76

C Zambrano pitched to 1 batter in the 6th.

IBB - C Delgado (by C Marmol), J Reyes (by B Howry). Pitches-strikes: O
Hernandez 109-67; P Feliciano 5-3; G Mota 16-9; B Wagner 14-9; C Zambrano
94-49; C Marmol 34-20; B Howry 30-21; R Dempster 26-17. Ground balls-fly balls:
O Hernandez 3-8; P Feliciano 0-0; G Mota 0-3; B Wagner 3-0; C Zambrano 7-3; C
Marmol 1-1; B Howry 2-0; R Dempster 0-2. Batters faced: O Hernandez 26; P
Feliciano 1; G Mota 4; B Wagner 4; C Zambrano 24; C Marmol 9; B Howry 5; R
Dempster 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Paul Schrieber. 1B--Tim Mcclelland. 2B--Marty Foster.
3B--Fieldin Culbreth.

T--3:08. Att--41,512.
Weather: 77 degrees, sunny. Wind: 16 mph, in from
right.</div>

 

NL: NY METS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
NY METS 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 4 6 9 1
CHICAGO CUBS 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 8 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: NYM - ORLANDO HERNANDEZ, PEDRO FELICIANO (7TH), GUILLERMO MOTA
(8TH), BILLY WAGNER (9TH) AND RAMON CASTRO

CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO, CARLOS MARMOL (6TH), BOBBY HOWRY
(8TH), RYAN DEMPSTER (9TH) AND JASON KENDALL


WP - GUILLERMO MOTA (1-0)
LP - RYAN DEMPSTER (2-4)
SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS: NYM - RAMON CASTRO (9) OFF CARLOS ZAMBRANO IN THE 6TH, 0 ON

CHN - DERREK LEE (12) OFF ORLANDO HERNANDEZ IN THE 6TH, 0 ON


TIME: 3:08 ATT: 41,512

PROBABLES: NYM - JOHN MAINE (12-5, 2.92)
CHN - TED LILLY (11-5, 3.60)</div>

 

NL: NY METS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
NY METS 6
CHICAGO CUBS 2 FINAL</div>

 

NL: NY METS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NY METS (6) AT CHICAGO CUBS (2) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NY METS 6TH: R Castro homered to left. C Marmol relieved C Zambrano
inheriting a 1-1 count. S Green grounded out to second. R Gotay struck out
looking. O Hernandez struck out looking. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) NY METS 1,
CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 6TH: A Soriano struck out swinging. R Theriot grounded out to
first. D Lee homered to left center. A Ramirez struck out swinging. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) NY METS 1, CHICAGO CUBS 1.

NY METS 7TH: J Reyes flied out to center. D Newhan walked. D Newhan stole
second. D Wright struck out swinging. C Delgado intentionally walked.
M Anderson singled to right, D Newhan scored, C Delgado to third. R Castro
struck out looking. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) NY METS 2, CHICAGO CUBS 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 7TH: C Floyd struck out swinging. M DeRosa singled to center.
J Jones struck out swinging. J Kendall doubled to deep left, M DeRosa scored.
M Fontenot hit for C Marmol. P Feliciano relieved O Hernandez. M Murton hit
for M Fontenot. M Murton struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
NY METS 2, CHICAGO CUBS 2.

NY METS 9TH: R Dempster relieved B Howry. D Wright walked. C Delgado
doubled to deep right, D Wright scored, C Delgado to third advancing on throw.
M Anderson popped out to second. R Castro struck out swinging. S Green
doubled to left, C Delgado scored. R Gotay singled to left, S Green scored.
M Alou hit for G Mota. M Alou singled to center, R Gotay to third. J Reyes
singled to right, R Gotay scored, M Alou to second. D Newhan flied out to
center. (4 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors) NY METS 6, CHICAGO CUBS 2.</div>

 

NL: NY METS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NY METS (6) AT CHICAGO CUBS (2) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ny Mets Starting Lineups -- J Reyes SS, D Newhan LF, D Wright 3B, C Delgado 1B,
M Anderson CF, R Castro C, S Green RF, R Gotay 2B, O Hernandez RHP.

Chicago Cubs Starting Lineups -- A Soriano LF, R Theriot SS, D Lee 1B,
A Ramirez 3B, C Floyd RF, M DeRosa 2B, J Jones CF, J Kendall C, C Zambrano RHP.

Umpires -- Paul Schrieber (HP), Tim Mcclelland (1B), Marty Foster (2B),
Fieldin Culbreth (3B).

Gametime Weather: 77 degrees, Sunny, wind in from right at 16 mph.


NY METS 1ST: J Reyes lined out to right. D Newhan grounded out to second.
D Wright walked. C Delgado walked, D Wright to second. M Anderson struck out
looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY METS 0, CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 1ST: A Soriano popped out to shortstop. R Theriot flied out
to right. D Lee struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY METS 0,
CHICAGO CUBS 0.

NY METS 2ND: R Castro popped out to third. S Green struck out swinging.
R Gotay walked. O Hernandez lined out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
NY METS 0, CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 2ND: A Ramirez flied out to center. C Floyd popped out to
second. M DeRosa flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY METS 0,
CHICAGO CUBS 0.

NY METS 3RD: J Reyes grounded out to second. D Newhan struck out swinging.
D Wright grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY METS 0,
CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 3RD: J Jones doubled to right. J Kendall struck out swinging.
C Zambrano struck out looking. A Soriano flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) NY METS 0, CHICAGO CUBS 0.

NY METS 4TH: C Delgado walked. M Anderson grounded out to catcher,
C Delgado to second. R Castro grounded out to shortstop, C Delgado to third.
S Green walked. R Gotay struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
NY METS 0, CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 4TH: R Theriot popped out to shortstop. D Lee grounded out to
first. A Ramirez doubled to right. C Floyd struck out swinging. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) NY METS 0, CHICAGO CUBS 0.

NY METS 5TH: O Hernandez bunt grounded out to pitcher. J Reyes grounded
out to first. D Newhan walked. D Wright singled to left, D Newhan to second.
C Delgado walked, D Newhan to third, D Wright to second. M Anderson struck out
swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) NY METS 0, CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 5TH: M DeRosa struck out swinging. J Jones grounded out to
first. J Kendall walked. C Zambrano popped out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) NY METS 0, CHICAGO CUBS 0.

NY METS 6TH: R Castro homered to left. C Marmol relieved C Zambrano
inheriting a 1-1 count. S Green grounded out to second. R Gotay struck out
looking. O Hernandez struck out looking. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) NY METS 1,
CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 6TH: A Soriano struck out swinging. R Theriot grounded out to
first. D Lee homered to left center. A Ramirez struck out swinging. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) NY METS 1, CHICAGO CUBS 1.

NY METS 7TH: J Reyes flied out to center. D Newhan walked. D Newhan stole
second. D Wright struck out swinging. C Delgado intentionally walked.
M Anderson singled to right, D Newhan scored, C Delgado to third. R Castro
struck out looking. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) NY METS 2, CHICAGO CUBS 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 7TH: C Floyd struck out swinging. M DeRosa singled to center.
J Jones struck out swinging. J Kendall doubled to deep left, M DeRosa scored.
M Fontenot hit for C Marmol. P Feliciano relieved O Hernandez. M Murton hit
for M Fontenot. M Murton struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
NY METS 2, CHICAGO CUBS 2.

NY METS 8TH: B Howry relieved C Marmol. S Green grounded out to second.
R Gotay doubled to deep right. D Easley hit for P Feliciano. D Easley grounded
out to shortstop, R Gotay to third. J Reyes intentionally walked. J Reyes
stole second. D Newhan struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
NY METS 2, CHICAGO CUBS 2.

CHICAGO CUBS 8TH: G Mota relieved P Feliciano. A Soriano flied out to
right. R Theriot flied out to left. D Lee singled to left. D Lee stole
second, D Lee safe at third on throwing error by catcher R Castro. A Ramirez
flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) NY METS 2, CHICAGO CUBS 2.

NY METS 9TH: R Dempster relieved B Howry. D Wright walked. C Delgado
doubled to deep right, D Wright scored, C Delgado to third advancing on throw.
M Anderson popped out to second. R Castro struck out swinging. S Green
doubled to left, C Delgado scored. R Gotay singled to left, S Green scored.
M Alou hit for G Mota. M Alou singled to center, R Gotay to third. J Reyes
singled to right, R Gotay scored, M Alou to second. D Newhan flied out to
center. (4 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors) NY METS 6, CHICAGO CUBS 2.

CHICAGO CUBS 9TH: L Castillo at second base. B Wagner relieved G Mota.
C Floyd singled to right. M DeRosa singled to center, C Floyd to second.
J Jones grounded into double play, shortstop to first, M DeRosa out at second,
C Floyd to third. J Kendall grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
NY METS 6, CHICAGO CUBS 2.</div>

 

Delgado highlights big ninth as Mets top Cubs

<h3>NY METS 6, CHICAGO CUBS 2</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Carlos Delgado did not get a chance toswing the bat over the first eight innings. That all changedwhen it mattered most.


Delgado stroked a clutch, go-ahead double to snap a ninth-inningtie as the New York Mets rallied for four runs in the frame enroute to a 6-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs in the opener of athree-game series at Wrigley Field on Friday afternoon.

Ramon Castro belted a solo homer for the Mets, who picked uptheir third straight win. New York took the final two games ofa three-game set against the Milwaukee Brewers earlier in theweek.


With the loss, the Cubs (57-51) fell one-half game behind theBrewers (58-51), who lead the National League Central Divisionand host the Philadelphia Phillies (57-51) later Friday night.New York (62-47) now holds a 4 1/2 game-lead over Philadelphiain the NL East.


Delgado had been walked four times prior to his at-bat in theninth as Chicago pitchers stayed away from the slugger, insteaddeciding to pitch to Marlon Anderson, who was hitting fifth inthe order.


But in the ninth, after a leadoff walk to David Wright, Delgadostroked a line-drive double down the right field line off Cubscloser Ryan Dempster (2-4), scoring Wright from first to snap a2-2 tie.


Shawn Green, Ruben Gotay and Jose Reyes each delivered RBI hitslater in the frame to cap the outburst and provide the finalmargin.


After the departure of Mets starter Orlando Hernandez in theseventh, Pedro Feliciano, Guillermo Mota (1-0) and Billy Wagnercombined for 2 1/3 scoreless innings to close out the game.

Castro started the scoring in the sixth, blasting a homer offCubs starter Carlos Zambrano. Green followed and worked thecount to 1-1 before the hard-throwing righthander exited withcramps and dehydration.


Carlos Marmol came on to retire Green and the next two battersto end the inning. Zambrano yielded one run and two hits infive frames, walking seven and striking out five.


The Cubs tied the game in the bottom of the sixth thanks toDerrek Lee, who belted a two-out solo homer off Hernandez, his12th of the season.


After David Newhan worked a one-out walk and stole second in theseventh, Wright struck out swinging, allowing Delgado to bewalked intentionally. Anderson then stroked a single to make it2-1.


The lead was short-lived, however, as Jason Kendall ripped atwo-out double off the left field wall in the seventh thatscored Mark DeRosa from first to tie the game. The line drivewent over Newhan's head so quickly, his momentum took him intothe wall's ivy as the ball caromed back toward the infield,allowing DeRosa to score easily.


The game-tying double knocked out Hernandez, who allowed justtwo runs and five hits in 6 2/3 frames while striking out nineand walking one.


Lee and DeRosa each had two hits for Chicago.

 

Delgado highlights big ninth as Mets top Cubs

<h3>NY METS 6, CHICAGO CUBS 2</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Carlos Delgado did not get a chance toswing the bat over the first eight innings. That all changedwhen it mattered most.


Delgado stroked a clutch, go-ahead double to snap a ninth-inningtie as the New York Mets rallied for four runs in the frame enroute to a 6-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs in the opener of athree-game series at Wrigley Field on Friday afternoon.

Ramon Castro belted a solo homer for the Mets, who picked uptheir third straight win. New York took the final two games ofa three-game set against the Milwaukee Brewers earlier in theweek.


"We have been playing much better the last couple of weeks,"Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "Our guys are having betterat-bats and maintaining their focus throughout the game. We aredoing a better job of adding on runs in the late innings andhelping our bullpen that way."


With the loss, the Cubs (57-51) fell one-half game behind theBrewers (58-51), who lead the National League Central Divisionand host the Philadelphia Phillies (57-51) later Friday night.New York (62-47) now holds a 4 1/2 game-lead over Philadelphiain the NL East.


Delgado had been walked four times prior to his at-bat in theninth as Chicago pitchers stayed away from the slugger, insteaddeciding to pitch to Marlon Anderson, who was hitting fifth inthe order.


But in the ninth, after a leadoff walk to David Wright, Delgadostroked a line-drive double down the right field line off Cubscloser Ryan Dempster (2-4), scoring Wright from first to snap a2-2 tie.


"They were going to have to pitch to Carlos eventually,"Randolph said. "He got a ball down in the zone and he drove it.David got a good jump and scored the lead run. That was a bigplay for us."


"When you're facing Ryan Dempster, you don't want to start offin the hole," Delgado said. "I was just looking for something Icould drive and got a good pitch there."


Shawn Green, Ruben Gotay and Jose Reyes each delivered RBI hitslater in the frame to cap the outburst and provide the finalmargin.


"I was more upset that I didn't get the rest of the hitters outafter Delgado," Dempster said. "We still could have had achance to come back."


After the departure of Mets starter Orlando Hernandez in theseventh, Pedro Feliciano, Guillermo Mota (1-0) and Billy Wagnercombined for 2 1/3 scoreless innings to close out the game.

Castro started the scoring in the sixth, blasting a homer offCubs starter Carlos Zambrano. Green followed and worked thecount to 1-1 before the hard-throwing righthander exited withcramps and dehydration.


Carlos Marmol came on to retire Green and the next two battersto end the inning. Zambrano yielded one run and two hits infive frames, walking seven and striking out five.


"I'm not the type that likes to drink water," Zambrano said."That's been a problem for me, maybe I will force myself todrink some from now on. I was disappointed to come out of thegame when the team needed me to pitch seven or eight (innings)."

The Cubs tied the game in the bottom of the sixth thanks toDerrek Lee, who belted a two-out solo homer off Hernandez, his12th of the season.


"I don't think (Hernandez) threw me one breaking ball," Leesaid. "He did mix up his pitches against most of our hitters.You never know what is coming out of his hand. He kept usoff-balance."


After David Newhan worked a one-out walk and stole second in theseventh, Wright struck out swinging, allowing Delgado to bewalked intentionally. Anderson then stroked a single to make it2-1.


The lead was short-lived, however, as Jason Kendall ripped atwo-out double off the left field wall in the seventh thatscored Mark DeRosa from first to tie the game. The line drivewent over Newhan's head so quickly, his momentum took him intothe wall's ivy as the ball caromed back toward the infield,allowing DeRosa to score easily.


"It was nice to get a ball I could turn on," Kendall said. "Younever assume you have hit the ball out with the wind blowing inhere."


The game-tying double knocked out Hernandez, who allowed justtwo runs and five hits in 6 2/3 frames while striking out nineand walking one.


"(Hernandez) has always been good," Kendall said. "He throwsfrom different angles. You start waiting for his soft pitches,and then he buzzes you on the black with a 90 mile-per-hourfastball."


Lee and DeRosa each had two hits for Chicago.