Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Chris Young does it all

When the Mets signed Chris Young during the off-season, they projected a pitcher who could excel at Citi Field, the Mets’ spacious home, where so many long fly balls turn into catchable balls in front of the imposing high walls.

But there was probably no consideration given to Young’s hitting abilities, because he had a career .137 batting average. In his Mets debut Tuesday, however, Young made as much impact at the plate as he did on the mound.

Young became the first Mets pitcher to record two hits in an inning, and in his next at-bat tied the club record for most hits in a game by a pitcher, with three.

His record-setting offensive output was a novelty of sorts, but his more important work was done on the mound. Young pitched well enough to lead the Mets to a 7-1 victory at Citizens Bank Park in their first game of the season against the National League East Division rival Philadelphia Phillies.

It was the Mets’ third victory in a row and the Phillies’ first loss, leaving them tied atop the East at 3-1.

For the Mets, who come off one of their most tumultuous off-seasons, with changes in management and questions about the finances of the team’s owners, a good start to the season has been widely considered a must to buoy confidence among the players and the fans.

“No matter what happens in the off-season, I always think it’s somewhat important to try and get of to a good start just to boost some guys’ confidence and really practice winning,” said David Wright, who, with four hits, was the only Met to outhit Young.

Over five and a third impressive innings, Young allowed only one run, five hits and four walks, and struck out seven, while the Mets pounded the Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels.

Hamels allowed six runs and seven hits in two and two-thirds innings, and he was booed as he walked off the mound. But his performance was not entirely surprising. Hamels has always struggled to beat the Mets. Last year, he went 0-4 against them, and his career record against the Mets is 2-9.

The Mets scored six runs against Hamels in the third inning, when they sent 11 men to the plate. Young led off with a single through the left side of the infield and scored on Wright’s two-run single to left. Later in the inning, Young stroked a single to left field, driving in Ike Davis from second.

Then, in the fifth inning, Young reached on an infield bouncer up the middle. Second baseman Wilson Valdez reached it, but his momentum carried him so far to his right that he was unable to make a strong throw to first base.

“I didn’t realize he was such a good hitting pitcher,” Wright said. “It just makes Pelfrey look that much worse.”

Wright’s playful dig was at Mike Pelfrey, Wednesday’s starting pitcher, who has a career .093 batting average.

Young’s three hits equaled his output for the 2008 season, when he had three hits in 28 at-bats while playing for the San Diego Padres. Several Mets pitchers have recorded three hits in a game. The most recent was Tom Glavine, who did it in 2005.

After the Mets took a 6-0 lead, the game had only one competitive moment. In the fifth, the Phillies scored a run against Young and loaded the bases with two outs and the slugger Ryan Howard coming to the plate.

Manager Terry Collins chose to stick with Young, who induced an easy ground ball from Howard to end the threat.

Even with his strong pitching and surprising hitting, perhaps the best aspect of the night for Young was that he felt no pain in his right shoulder, which was operated on in 2009. Last year, Young made only four starts, and he had no hits in any of them.

“It’s special to be part of Mets history,” he said. “I never would have dreamed that. But hopefully, there’s a lot of great things to come as a team.” (NY TImes)

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