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GAME LOG
NEW YORK (AP) -- Once Tsuyoshi Shinjo was hit by a pitch, Todd
Zeile and the New York Mets swiftly struck back.
|  | | As Todd Zeile of the Mets was rounding the bases after a three-run homer, he started barking Florida pitcher Brad Penny.
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In a game that included a bench-clearing rumble and a John
Rockerlike display by Florida pitcher Brad Penny, the Mets rallied
for a testy, 4-3 victory in 10 innings Friday night.
Timo Perez singled with two outs in the bottom of the 10th,
giving the Mets their first three-game winning streak of the
season.
"I was especially pleased because it was retaliation for the
shot they took on Shinjo," said Zeile, whose tying, three-run
homer in the seventh started all the craziness.
A day earlier, Shinjo angered the Marlins by swinging at a 3-0
pitch when the Mets held a big lead late in the game.
But there did not appear to be any lingering tension on a damp
night when Penny seemed to be in complete command.
Having allowed only four singles, he took a 3-0 lead into the
seventh until losing total control.
After striking out Mike Piazza, Penny gave up a single to Robin
Ventura and hit Shinjo in the shoulder.
"If they think swinging at a 3-0 pitch is cause for
retaliation, then they'll find out what retaliation is," Mets
manager Bobby Valentine said later. "I've been in this game 33
years, and it's been established that swinging 3-0 is not a reason
to hurt a man or throw at him.
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“ |
If
they think swinging at a 3-0 pitch is cause for
retaliation, then they'll find out what retaliation is.
I've been in this game 33 years, and it's been
established that swinging 3-0 is not a reason to
hurt a man or throw at him. ... It's the new
'Let's-wear-a-skirt baseball,' and I've never worn
a skirt." ” |
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— Mets manager Bobby Valentine, upset that Tsuyoshi Shinjo was
hit by a pitch |
"It's the new 'Let's-wear-a-skirt baseball,' and I've never
worn a skirt," he said.
After seeing two Mets' batters plunked by the Marlins the
previous night, Valentine slowly walked out to make sure Shinjo was
OK. Valentine seemed to milk the moment, too, letting the crowd get
noisy.
"He was staring at me," Penny said.
Zeile took advantage, hitting Penny's first pitch over the
left-center field fence for a home run -- and setting off a truly
wild scene.
As Zeile approached the plate, he and Penny began jawing.
Ventura and Penny also began yelling, and it prompted the benches
and bullpens to clear in a hurry.
"I did not hit him on purpose," Penny insisted. "You want to
put the tying run on base?"
While reiterating he had not done it on purpose, Penny admitted
Shinjo would've "deserved" to have been hit for his actions the
previous night.
There was a lot of pushing and shoving, but no punches or
ejections.
"I instigated it," Zeile freely admitted. "I said, `That's
for Shinjo' or something like that.
"The most emotion of it was not tying up the game, but it was
in the protection of Shinjo," he said. "You don't often get a
chance to protect a teammate on the offensive side like that."
Penny retired the next two batters, striking out Rey Ordonez to
end the inning, and twice pumped his fists in celebration.
Mets' fans behind the third-base dugout razzed Penny as he
walked off. The Marlins pitcher, who turned 23 a day earlier,
responded like an angry young man.
In a show reminiscent of Rocker's antics in the 1999 NL
championship series, Penny raised both arms high as he reached the
bench, then took off his cap and waved it to the crowd as he
disappeared down the steps.
"They were talking," Penny said. "I don't regret anything I
did."
Penny also cautioned: "There probably will be a carry-over
effect."
Said umpire crew chief Bruce Froemming: "I think we'll be
having pretty strong discussions with both teams before each of
these games."
Pinch-hitter Lenny Harris hustled for a one-out double in the
Mets' 10th off Dan Miceli (0-3). Perez, out of the starting lineup
since Sunday because of an injured left hand, singled into the
right-field corner.
"It's a great feeling with the problems I've had, being hurt
and everything," Perez said.
John Franco (1-0) got the victory for the defending National League champions. Now, Atlanta, Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh are the only
teams in the majors without a three-game winning streak.
Penny left after the seventh. The no-decision left intact his
eight-game winning streak, one short of the team mark shared by
Livan Hernandez and Pat Rapp.
The game was scoreless when the Marlins broke through with three
runs in the seventh against Rick Reed. Florida loaded the bases
with no outs when Mike Lowell doubled, Charles Johnson was hit by a
pitch and Derrek Lee singled.
Alex Gonzalez, stuck in a 6-for-48 slump after striking out in
his first two at-bats, singled for a 1-0 lead. Following a pair of
forceouts at the plate, Eric Owens hit a two-run single.
Game notes
Valentine recorded his 400th victory with the Mets. He is
second to Davey Johnson (596). ... Gonzalez had been 0-for-5 with
the bases loaded until his single.
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RECAPS
Baltimore 7
Texas 6
Boston 4
Toronto 0
Cleveland 6
NY Yankees 4
Chi. White Sox 8
Detroit 4
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Tampa Bay 4
Seattle 9
Kansas City 6
Oakland 4
Minnesota 2
Chicago Cubs 1
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St. Louis 5
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Philadelphia 10
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NY Mets 4
Florida 3
Atlanta 1
Pittsburgh 0
Arizona 7
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Houston 1
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San Francisco 1
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