Center fielder Carlos Beltran’s struggles at the plate go hand in hand with the Mets 3-11 record in the month of June.

Sun, Jun 17, 2007

By Jason Logan

Game: New York Mets at New York Yankees

 

Line: -185, 9 ½

 

Players like the under

 

One day after the Mets and Yankees slugged it out for 19 total runs, the rubber match of this weekend’s Subway Series is leaning towards the under - according to players on both New York franchises.

 

"Runs are going to be at a minimum," Mets third baseman David Wright told MLB.com of Sunday’s Game 3. "It's going to be like the first game of the series, where you really have to take advantage of every opportunity."

 

The Yankees send Chien-Ming Wang to the hill for the series finale, hoping the right-hander will continue his recent form. Wang has won his last three starts and is 5-1 in his last six trips to the bump, posting an ERA of 2.30 and 21 strikeouts during this stretch.

 

Opposing the Yankees’ red-hot hurler is former Bronx Bomber, Orlando Hernandez, who has been stung by the Mets’ poor play. El Duque has compiled a 2-1 record in his last six appearances despite allowing only seven total runs over those games. He is 0-3 against the Yankees throughout his career.

 

Both Wang and Hernandez have a combined 5-12 over/under record this season.

 

Beltran the face of mediocre Mets

 

Being the man in the Big Apple is a double-edged sword. When the team is winning, you’re the toast of the town. But when the team is losing, like the Mets, you feel the brunt of all the criticism.

 

Center fielder Carlos Beltran’s struggles at the plate go hand in hand with the Mets 3-11 record in the month of June. New York is hitting .250 and averaging just over three runs per game over these 14 contests while Beltran, who was heating up in late May, is batting a measly .143 in June and is hitless in his last 15 attempts with runners in scoring position.

 

“Just a few knocks, that’s all he needs,” Mets manager Willie Randolph told the New York Times. “When I talk about hitters and ups and downs, this is all part of the season. He’ll get going. He’ll get right.”

 

Beltran went 0-for-6 during Saturday’s 11-8 loss to the Yankees, failing to get a hit in four opportunities with RISP and leaving nine men stranded.

 

He isn’t alone in his struggles. First baseman Carlos Delgado is hitting slightly better than Beltran, batting .203 in June and managing two singles on Saturday night. Delgado, who is averaging .224 on the season, struck out in all four at-bats during Friday’s series opener.

 

Bronx bombs away!

 

Saturday’s Game 2 win over the Mets didn’t budge the Yankees in the American League East standings since the Boston Red Sox also won against the San Francisco Giants. But the 11-8 victory did push the Yankees two games above .500 and improved their June record to 12-3.

 

This month New York is batting .315 at the plate and has driven in almost seven runs per game. Hot hitters Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Bobby Abreu and Alex Rodriguez, who hit his league leading 26 home run on Saturday, are leading the Yankees charge back up the standings.

 

"We've been getting it from everybody for a long time," Jeter told MLB.com. "We've got a lot of guys who are feeling comfortable and pretty confident when they're up there at the plate. It makes it tough to pitch to us."

 

Reyes burning up the bases

 

New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes is a thorn in the side of the rival Yankees. On Friday, Reyes went 3-for-3 with a walk and three stolen bases. He followed up that effort with a ninth-inning RBI single, two stolen bases and forced Yankees pitcher Tyler Clippard to balk, bringing the crafty base runner home.

 

"I enjoy it," Reyes told reporters about forcing the balk. "It's a big part of my game."

 

Clippard is the second major league pitcher to fall for Reyes antics this season. On May 29, the Giants Armando Benitez balked with Reyes on third, tying the game late in extra innings. Reyes leads the Mets in batting, hitting .319 this season and is the major league leader in steals with 37.

 

Dinged up Damon is DH

 

Yankees center fielder Johnny Damon’s list of ailments this season is beginning to resemble a HMO’s day planner.

 

Damon returned to the lineup Saturday night after sitting out Friday’s series opener with an abdominal strain. Manager Joe Torre decided to use Damon as the DH rather than risk further injury in the field. However, according to Damon, this injury could plague him for the rest of the year.

 

“I don't think a day or hours is going to do anything,” Damon told the New York Daily News. “I just have to go and swing. I think I can do it. Granted, it could get worse, but I know my presence in the lineup can change things whether I do well or not.”

 

Damon is batting .254 this season with three home runs and 21 RBI. Despite his recent injury troubles, the 33-year-old has never been placed on the disabled list in his 13 years in the big leagues.