After 19 Scoreless Innings, Mets’ Bats Awaken In Florida
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MIAMI – Kris Benson won his third straight start, Jose Reyes hit two triples, and the Mets broke out of their slump with a 12-4 victory over the Florida Marlins last night.
The Mets were shut out in the last two games of their series in Atlanta and hadn’t scored for 19 innings. They roughed up two pitchers who were called up Wednesday and finished with 14 hits, including six for extra bases.
Reyes leads the majors with seven triples. He also tripled twice on May 18 against Cincinnati.
Benson (3-1) gave up three runs and five hits over six innings and struck out four. Heath Bell followed and struck out five in two scoreless innings.
Frank Castillo (0-1) took the loss in his first major league start since September 16, 2002, when he pitched for Boston. The 36-year-old Castillo, who was called up from Triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday, allowed five runs and four hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out four and walked five.
The Marlins have allowed 31 hits over the last two games.
Castillo was lifted after walking two batters in the fifth and was replaced by Yorman Bazardo, who made his major league debut. Bazardo walked Mike Piazza to load the bases and then gave up an RBI single to David Wright.
Doug Mientkiewicz hit what looked like an inning-ending double play, but second baseman Damion Easley booted the ball and it went into right field. Two runs scored to give the Mets had a 6-3 lead.
The Mets scored four more times against Bazardo in the sixth, then made it 12-3 with two runs off John Riedling in the seventh. Mike Cameron had RBI doubles in both innings.
The Mets took a 3-1 lead in the second. Benson drove in Piazza – who singled to open the inning – with a single, and Reyes followed with a two-run triple. The Marlins tied it in the fourth after loading the bases with two outs. Alex Gonzalez hit a two-run single.
Carlos Delgado hit his eighth home run off Benson in the first inning.
Mets centerfielder Carlos Beltran did not start the game because of a strained right quad and is still day-to-day. Some sources have said the injury may need three weeks to fully heal. Beltran plans to be back before he is completely over the injury, but he is to hurt to play now. He will likely miss the entire series against the Marlins.
