(June 15, 2008)--Pedro Martinez pitched six sharp innings, pinch-hitter Robinson Cancel got his first major league hit in nearly nine years and the New York Mets beat the Texas Rangers 4-2 Sunday for a doubleheader split.
Billy Wagner ended his skid of three straight blown saves and David Wright had three hits for his first multihit game in two weeks for the Mets. Carlos Beltran followed up a homer and two RBIs in the opener with a run-scoring single as New York took two of three from Texas, perhaps giving Mets manager Willie Randolph a reprieve from being fired.
In the opener, Kevin Millwood pitched six solid innings, and Ramon Vazquez, Ian Kinsler and Milton Bradley homered in the Rangers' 8-7 victory. It was Millwood's first road win since last Father's Day.
Martinez was making his first start at Shea Stadium since Sept. 27 and the fans showed him their love, chanting "We want Pedro!" when he was removed for Cancel with the bases loaded in the sixth. Mets fans mercilessly booed the decision as Cancel walked to the plate for his second at-bat this season.
Cancel quickly turned the crowd around by calmly grounding an 0-2 pitch up the middle for a two-run single and a 4-2 lead. The hit was Cancel's first since Sept 21, 1999, for Milwaukee against Philadelphia, his only previous stint in the big leagues.
The Mets are heading west for the second time in two weeks and Randolph said his bags were packed for the trip. But after returning from a 2-5 West Coast swing on Monday, including a four-game sweep by the lowly Padres, rumors intensified that Randolph could lose his job by the end of the series against Texas.
Before the first game Sunday, Randolph said he had no idea what combination of results in the twinbill was needed to remain the club's manager.
Martinez (2-0) gave up six hits and two runs -- one earned -- in his third start since coming off the disabled list on June 3 -- fourth overall. His four strikeouts came to end innings and he showed his intense side, arguing with Marlon Byrd after Byrd took exception to Martinez's deliberate pace after Byrd had called timeout on the pitch.
The Mets bullpen had a turnaround from the first game, when they gave up three runs and helped turn a 3-2 game into an 8-2 deficit.
Pedro Feliciano, who gave up a run and threw a crucial wild pitch in relief of John Maine in the opener, worked a clean seventh. Duaner Sanchez pitched a 1-2-3 eighth and Wagner, after entering to tepid applause, was perfect in the ninth for his 14th save in 19 chances.
Adventures in the outfield helped each team pick up early runs. The Rangers went up 2-0 when Damion Easley dropped Kinsler's routine fly to left in the third for an error. The Mets scored their second run of the bottom of the third when Byrd lost Beltran's fly in the sun for an RBI single.
New York went ahead 4-2 in the eighth against Kason Gabbard, who was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma earlier in the day. Gabbard gave up a single to Beltran and a double to Easley and intentionally walked Fernando Tatis to load the bases before Cancel got his hit.
Gabbard (1-3) gave up eight hits and four runs in 5 2/3 innings.
In the opener, Millwood (5-3) improved to 3-0 in four starts since returning from a groin injury May 29. Other than allowing long homers to Carlos Delgado and Beltran, he kept the ball mostly in the infield with meek grounders. Millwood struck out five and walked four -- one intentionally.
Millwood had lost a club-record 10 straight decisions on the road dating to June 17, 2007 -- Father's Day.
"I've won more games on the road than just Father's Day, just not lately," said Millwood, who has 138 career wins.
C.J. Wilson gave up two runs in the ninth before getting Easley to fly to left with runners on first and second for his 13th save in 15 tries. It was a save situation because the Mets scored three times in the eighth to make it 8-5.
Maine (6-5) continued the recent run of solid outings by Mets starters, working into the seventh. He allowed five runs and seven hits. He struck out five and did not walk a batter.
Game notes
Mets RF Ryan Church, on the DL with post-concussion syndrome, visited the clubhouse Sunday. He said he has not had any dizziness in several days and was feeling much better. He will not make the trip with the team west. ... Rangers INF Hank Blalock will begin a rehab assignment Monday at Triple-A Oklahoma. He had carpal tunnel syndrome surgery on May 30.
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