Sheffield, Tigers Pound Glavine, Mets To Take Series

DETROIT — Gary Sheffield contributed to one of Tom Glavine's worst outings with a homer and an RBI triple, helping the Detroit Tigers beat the Mets 15–7 yesterday and win the series.

Brandon Inge hit a two-run single in the four-run ninth, giving him a career-best five RBIs and helping the Tigers surpass their previous season high of 14 runs.

Glavine (5–4) gave up nine earned runs for just the second time in his stellar career and for the first time in eight years.

Andrew Miller (2–0) allowed a three-run homer to David Wright in the first inning before settling down — giving up four runs, five hits, and three walks over 5 1-3 innings. Miller made his second major league start in place of Nate Robertson, who is on the disabled list with a tired arm.

Ivan Rodriguez hit a go-ahead, two-run triple in the third inning and the Tigers scored six runs in the fifth to take a 10–3 lead.

Miller left the game with one on, one out, and a seven-run lead in the sixth and the cushion quickly was cut after Jason Grilli replaced him.

Grilli gave up three straight hits — including rookie Carlos Gomez's first homer — and was replaced after hitting the fourth Met he faced without getting an out. Tim Byrdak got out of the two-on, one-out jam with a strikeout and flyout.

Detroit's Omar Infante, who replaced an injured Carlos Guillen in the third inning, hit an RBI single in the sixth to give Detroit an 11–6 lead.

In a matchup of an all-time great left-hander and a promising lefty going for win no. 2, the pitcher with 295 career wins had a rough day.

Glavine gave up a season-high 11 hits and lasted just 4 1-3 innings, his shortest outing of the season. The only other time Glavine gave up nine earned runs was May 24, 1999, for Atlanta against the Milwaukee Brewers.

"He threw the ball well. He felt pretty good, but Tommy didn't locate his pitches," the Mets manager, Willie Randolph, said.

"It was one of those days where no matter what you tried to do, or whatever adjustments you tries to make, it didn't work," Glavine said.

Andrew Miller (2–0) allowed a three-run homer to David Wright in the first inning before settling down — finishing with four runs allowed, five hits and three walks over 5 1-3 innings.

A year after being drafted sixth overall, Miller made his second start in the majors.

"It's like a movie script," he said. "You wouldn't believe it if somebody told you, but I'm here and I think it's real. You couldn't dream it up better than this."

Leyland was not surprised to see the 22-year-old Miller pitch out of some jams.

"Like I used to say about Doc Gooden, it's pretty easy to be poised when you've got that kind of talent," he said.