A reminder because the Mets did not hit, and pitch and that was so reminiscent of what was seen often at Citi Field in 2010.  The debut of new manager Terry Collins got off to a good start with a warm welcome from fans in pre-game introductions. The loudest ovations went to new pitcher Chris Young and for Hall of Fame Broadcaster Ralph Kiner who threw the ceremonial first pitch.

And starting pitcher R.A. Dickey (1-1) got a loud ovation. But that changed because his knuckleball was not effective after he split a nail on his index finger in the first inning.  Dickey was one of the bright spots for New York last season, but in his two starts he has walked eight batters in 11 innings including the five he issued against the Nationals.

“I’m not going to say the split nail led to the every walk,” commented Dickey. He walked a run in the fifth after the Nationals loaded the bases on three consecutive one-out singles. The fifth walk was a career high for Dickey. “It was just very tough to get the feel,” he said about the control issue due to the nail that he claims will not hinder his next start.

But Dickey was not the only issue the Mets encountered in their season debut at home. What bothered fans, as was so often the case last season was the Mets ineffective ability to drive in runs. Coming off a season opening 3-3 road trip, the Mets have lost three straight, the pitching staff has given up 27 runs, and in the last two games they are 1-17 with runners in scoring position including the ten they stranded Friday.

Frustrating for the fans in the early going, but not for the new manager who commented, “I am a long way from being frustrated.” But on opening day, an unusual 4pm start that lasted into evening, this was not what Collins would have wanted especially coming off an 11-0 loss to the Phillies on the last game of their trip the day before.

When Washington’s Ivan Rodriguez hit a two-run single to right that broke his season beginning 0-12 start, off Mets reliever Bobby Parnell that was followed by an RBI ground ball from Ian Desmond, the remaining crowd that had enough of the chill decided to call it a night. That was the deciding blow, the three-run eighth that ruined a season opener.

“We have to shake it off and do better than that,” said Collins. It is so early to be in a panic mode but if Collins does not see his team bounce back in the next few days then it could get frustrating. There was a point in the game when Collins and the fans loved a rejuvenated Jose Reyes. He dived to his left in the fifth inning and started an inning ending double play with the bases loaded that kept the game close.

Though few people give the Mets a chance to be competitive this season, a bright spot could be Reyes who may not be around by September. The financially strapped Mets may not be able to afford a new contract for their home grown shortstop and he could be traded depending on where the Mets are situated by late July.

But that is another issue for a later date. The focus will now be how resilient this team is with an early season losing streak of three games. And to forget about a home opener that took away optimism for any type of respectable season. The Mets fell to 31-19 in their home openers, 1-2 at Citi Field.

“We’ll score some runs and those guys will get on base,” said Collins about Angel Pagan, David Wright, Carlos Beltran and Ike Davis who went a combined 2-for 15 at the plate. Washington starter Jordan Zimmerman (1-1) coming off Tommy John surgery in 2009 gave up two runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. The Nationals pen then closed the door with the committee role manager Jim Riggleman is using.

“We walked to many guys that put us in a hole,” said Collins.  He added his team will get better. His predecessor Jerry Manuel always said they would get better. But as every Mets fan knows, it did not get better.

A fresh start at Citi Field that did not get better in the later innings and when Dickey left the game it led to many questions for the next day. “Nobody in here is hitting the panic button,” said Dickey. “We are going to stay focused.”

But the question is will Mets fans stay focused if this first home stint of 2011 does not go their way?

E-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

Hughes was not at his best but good enough to get his 17^th win of the season. With 12 games remaining, two with Tampa Bay, and three with Boston that concludes the Yankees home schedule this week, Hughes could get two or three more starts with an outside chance of winning 20 games

“He seemed to get stronger as the game went on,” said Yankees manager Joe Giardi about Hughes. “I liked what I saw.  I like what I saw about Javy and I liked about what I saw about Joba,” continued Girardi referring to Javier Vasquez and Joba Chamberlain who came out of the bullpen and allowed one run.

That run was scored by Tampa in the seventh scored on a single by Carl Crawford off Vasquez. The win enabled the Yankees to reduce their magic number to three for a playoff spot. Still to be determined is whether the post season nod for the Yankees is the Al east crown or wild card.

New York can just about be assured the division crown if they take the next two games in the Bronx against Tampa Bay. They opened a quick 5-0 lead off Rays’ starter and loser James Shields (13-13) who remained winless in September in notching a career high 13^th loss.

Nick Swisher had the big hit in the inning, a solo home run to right center field, his 27th on a 1-0 pitch. It was the American League leading 33^rd home run surrendered by Shields.  All five runs in the first came on five hits but Shields limited the Yankees to four base runners in the rest of his outing of 5.1 innings.

Girardi added, “As far as significance obviously we would like to win our division. Obviously, we want home field advantage in the playoffs.” And to the Yankees, as has been the case, having home field means everything in the postseason.

Right hander A.J, Burnett (10-13) with an ERA of 5.08 opposes (12-9) right hander Wade Davis in game three of the series at the stadium Wednesday evening as the Yankees look to inch closer to another post season.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

But Swisher has made it a habit of hitting the “walk- off” win this season. The last two Yankees walk-off wins have come off Swisher’s bat, but this one may have been more important as the Yankees prevented Baltimore from the sweep with a 3-2 win Wednesday afternoon in the Bronx.

As they embark on a nine-game road trip that takes them to American league western leading Texas for three, and three to Tampa Bay in what is a key AL east divisional series, the Yankees know how important this win was Wednesday afternoon.

“We put ourselves in a great spot, we just have to keep it going,” said Swisher about where his team stands. The Yankees have 22 games remaining, 15 on the road, two games ahead of Tampa Bay with the best record in baseball.

And his home run, 26^th of the season came at the right time because up until that ninth inning Baltimore pitching once again had the Yankees perplexed at the plate. Right hander Brad Bergesen went 6.1 innings, allowed four hits, and a run, exiting with a 2-1 lead.

With Eduardo Nunez at first, pinch running for Alex Rodriguez who led off the inning with a single, Swisher got hold of a 2-0 pitch and hit it to the opposite field. With a bad knee, Swisher got two hits on the day after going 0-for his last 14.

“The wind was blowing out and it was a big win to end the home stand,” commented Swisher. The Yankees finished 7-3 in their longest home stand of the season.

Yankees starter Ivan Nova allowed two runs on six hits and did not figure in the decision. The bullpen went three innings without allowing a run. Joba Chamberlain (3-4) got the win, and Nova’s only mistake was a 3-0 pitch to Matt Wieters in the fifth that went over the left field fence with one on that gave the Orioles their two runs.

Nova would get out of a jam in the fifth inning. With runners on first and second Orioles’ Cesar Izturis popped out to Derek Jeter at short. That kept the score at 2-1. Nova would pitch one more inning, the sixth and allowed one hit.

“If we lose today it is not a good home stand,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. “It was a big swing,” he said about Swisher’s home run. “Was the whipped cream fresh? They hadn’t done it in a while,” he commented about the traditional “walk-off” cream pie that went in the face of Swisher after the big home run that was hit off Orioles loser Koji Uehara (1-1).

The Yankees snapped a three game losing streak and remain the only team in baseball without a losing streak of at least four games this season.

The Yankees had their chances, and as in their previous three games failed to capitalize with runners on base. Francisco Cervelli ended the seventh grounding out to third stranding Robinson Cano at second and Marcus Thames at first, who pinch hit for Curtis Granderson.

After the game Girardi revealed that catcher Jorge Posada, not in the starting lineup, wasn’t available off the bench. The night before Posada was nipped behind the plate by a foul tip which may have caused a minor concussion.

Posada had a restless night and Girardi said, “He had concussion type symptoms after the game.”  Posada saw the team doctor, was not at the ballpark and met with a neurologist. It was determined that Posada would travel to Texas with the team after tests came back negative.

When asked about Posada’s condition and availability for the upcoming road trip, Girardi said “If tests come back today that are okay we will take him with us.”  Girardi also envisioned the worst possible situation, his starting catcher out indefinitely due to the severity and caution of concussion symptoms.

“I have contemplated not having him a little bit. If that’s the case we will have to deal with it,” he said.  And as of now, the Yankees switch hitting catcher is day-to –day.  However, as with all type of concussion type of symptoms, the Yankees will be cautious and monitor Posada before he is cleared to take the field.

There was concern in the Yankees clubhouse for their teammate. Before the results came in they had no time to reflect on how important the win was that kept the Yankees for the moment two games up on Tampa.

“He’s a big part of our ball club and hopefully he will be back in the lineup in a couple of days,” commented Brett Gardner who drove in the Yankees first run of the day in the third. His double to left scored Curtis Granderson who singled and stole second.

It was Swisher’s third career game ending home run. “I guess it’s my day,” he said. “It’s a monster win for us.  “Obviously it’s a concern,” he said about Posada’s condition.

For the moment the Yankees condition is sitting well despite another brief losing streak. And they do expect Andy Pettitte to rejoin the pitching rotation in the next few days. Pettitte was scheduled to have a rehab assignment at Double A Trenton and if all goes well he could get a start on the road trip.

e-mail Rich Mancuso:  Ring786@aol.com

An accomplishment because last season at the break the team was 42-45, in fourth place trailing first place Philadelphia by 6-1/2 in the standings. The Mets know they are contending, and know extra help is here with Carlos Beltran coming off the disabled list and making his season debut in San Francisco Thursday evening,

Though Beltran, out since surgery on his right knee, does present some type of dilemma for manager Jerry Manuel. Well sort of, four outfielders and three spots. Someone will have to sit among Jason Bay, Angel Pagan and Jeff Francoeur.

The plan, according to Manuel is to bat Beltran fourth, a spot currently held by the rookie Ike Davis who will be dropped to the sixth spot. And you can’t sit Pagan down, the Mets most consistent hitter who got another three hits Sunday as New York took the final game over Atlanta salvaging their three-game series.

So what will be the situation when the Mets reconvene Thursday for an 11-game three- city trip that also takes them to Arizona and Los Angeles, a trip the Mets say is crucial as the second half begins. The Mets proved to be a good team at home, 30-16 but their fortunes away from Citi Field not as good at 18-24.

“We didn’t want to go onto the break the way we played the past few days,” commented Manuel after another pitching gem by his ace Johan Santana, which ended the first half on a positive note. New York looked lethargic at the plate the past two games against the division leading Braves, and their other pitcher with first half success, Mike Pelfrey, on Saturday once again could not get past the fifth inning.

But Beltran passed through the Mets clubhouse prior to the finale Sunday, afternoon and Santana gave the team an added lift, more so optimism for a good second half. Nothing but a spot for October baseball is what the Mets want. And they believe with Beltran healthy, and the usual second half success of Santana will get them there.

Francoeur was told by Manuel that he would most likely be regulated as a bench player. Occasionally he will get the start in right, that is, if Pagan hits a tailspin and all indications are that’s not going to happen. Pagan is healthy and shows continually, he is a key offensive cog at the beginning of the lineup.

“It’s not my decision,: commented Pagan about the lineup decisions Manuel has to make, He finished the first half with a string of four consecutive multi-hit games and batted .484 with three doubles, a triple, and two home runs since July 4^th in a seven game span.

Pagan added he would like to stay in the lineup. Manuel only indicated that Beltran will get the start and Francoeur will probably sit for the moment, but there is every reason to believe that there will be a platoon of Francoeur and Pagan. Jason Bay, who sat down Sunday, on his bobble head give-away day has been an offensive disappointment but his multi-million dollar contract leaves him in the lineup.

It is no problem for Francouer, He will go with the plan, and the return of Beltran will not disrupt a Mets clubhouse that has good chemistry and has looked forward to his bat back in the lineup.  You heard the comments from the players and realize how important it is to win.

“We’re not satisfied to be three or four games out of first place,” said David Wright who entered Sunday tied for the National League lead in runs batted in with 65 and starts at third base for the NL all stars.  “Our goal is to win the division. There is need for improvement.”

Santana has improved and has thrown shutout baseball the last two starts. The fastball is back and it is helping his other pitches. Now the Mets need to get Pelfrey back into form and with R.A. Dickey and Jonathan Niese having good first halves, perhaps GM Omar Minaya will try and get another starter,  to, compliment them before the trading deadline.

There is the possible return of pitchers Oliver Perez and John Maine from the disabled list, one or the other could be going to the pen. It has been the pitching that has put the Mets in this position of contention and they would like it to stay that way.

With or without Francouer in the lineup, they know what lies ahead in the coming weeks and months. Jose Reyes also is a part of the plan and needs to stay healthy as that catalyst in the lineup.

“Obviously it’s a good problem we have, it’s a good thing to see,” said Francoeur about Beltran. A good problem for this clubhouse if indeed, Beltran stays healthy and shows signs of once again being the run producer that the Mets have lacked since April.

Francoeur said he will do his part when he is in the lineup to make sure “this team wins.”  So do the rest of these New York Mets who feel they are on the footsteps of their first postseason since 2006.

Beltran won’t hurt their chances and neither would a platoon of Pagan and Francoeur. Now if Bay can finally find his home run swing the way Santana rediscovered his fastball.

E-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

The Nationals moved a game ahead of the Mets, now second place in the National League East standings, and for the second straight game a Mets player, this time Jose Reyes was ejected from the game for disputing a called third strike. Does the lack of hitting, and ejection of David Wright the day before and now Reyes have Mets manager Jerry Manuel frustrated?

“It’s a team concern, no doubt about it,” said Manuel about the lack of getting runs home. His team fanned 11 more times at the plate after 14 were struck out by San Francisco Giants pitching the day before. “We will do what we can to address the approach,” added Manuel. “When situations come, basically breathe and enjoy.”

But the Mets have not been able to enjoy much after an early season eight-game wining streak. The starting pitching has not been effective which ahs taken a toll on their bullpen, though this time against the Nationals there was no opportunity for another blown save.

John Maine gave up two runs on seven hits in six innings giving up back-to back home runs in the third inning to Adam Kennedy and Ryan Zimmerman. The over used Pedro Feliciano, leading National League pitchers out of the pen, gave up a deciding run in the eighth.

As for Reyes getting ejected, which also led to Manuel getting heaved from the game the manager said, “It doesn’t bother me when a guy is passionate what he does.”  But Wright being ejected Sunday in the ninth inning, which left the Mets short, could have caused Jason Bay to play third base had the game gone to extra innings.

The Reyes ejection may have come out of frustration, another close pitch that caught him looking and stranding two more runners on. That left Manuel to say, “Hopefully, when one guy gets that big hit….”  Meaning hitting is contagious as was the case two weeks ago during the wining streak.

It was a run scoring single by Ivan Rodriguez off Felician that became the decisive run.  The veteran Rodriquez, in his first year with Washington, had a 4-for-4 night at the plate and has been instrumental in handling the young Nationals pitching staff.

“What happened in Washington the last couple of years is already over,” said Rodriquez. “This is 2010,” he said. “We have a team. We’re focused now. We play the game now.”  Miguel Batista was the last of five Nationals pitchers and recorded his first save of the season despite giving up a one-out solo home run to Angel Pagan in the ninth.

But as the series continues against the Nationals Tuesday evening, the lack of getting runs home from Jason Bay, David Wright and Jeff Francoeur have to be a continued concern.

“We have good hitters, have a history of good hitters,’ said Manuel. “Hopefully it is a matter of time.” It better be a matter of time, because the Mets as a team are going to need to score runs if they are going to have any type of respectable season.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

The Yankee captain, Derek Jeter, was most responsible for the 6-4 victory on Friday night. Jeter led off the Yankees half of the first with a single to left. He moved to second after Mark Teixeira walked. He scored the first Yankee run of the evening after Alex Rodriguez doubled to cut the deficit to 3-1. A single by the red-hot Robinson Cano drove in Teixeira. In the top of the fifth, with the Yankees trailing, 4-2, Jeter tied the contest with a two-run homer. The game was knotted at four when Jeter came to the plate in the seventh frame. A long triple to right scored Francisco Cervelli and Brett Gardner. There was no further scoring by either team.

Jeter knocked in four runs and scored a fifth. Jeter netted three of the seven hits of the Yankees. Jeter’s hits moved him to first place in career number of base hits among active players. He surpassed the previous leader Ken Griffey, Jr. Last season, Jeter passed Lou Gehrig to become the Yanks career leader in hits. He is also the franchise leader in singles, hit by pitch and at bats, and is moving up the ladder in many other career categories.

After the contest, someone in the ballpark likened Jeter to God. The enthusiastic speaker was not a teenage girl, nor a member of Yankees management, but was the skipper of the Chicago White Sox, Ozzie Guillen. The baseball veteran did not mean his words to be sacrilegious but rather as compliment to the Yankee captain.

In response to a reporter’s query of whether Guillen had previously compared Jeter to the deity, the manager said, “Yes, I did. He is God all the time. It’s fun to watch him play the game. He’s the number one ambassador in this game. The guy always has good looking women around him too. I mean, God bless him.” Of Jeter’s homer off starter Freddy Garcia, Guillen commented, “Jeter got him, but Jeter’s a professional hitter.”

The Yankees’ 12-3 win on Sunday afternoon was an old-fashioned slugfest. Despite the absence of Alex Rodriguez, resting, and Curtis Granderson, placed on the DL on Saturday the Yankee bats were extremely active on Sunday. Six Yankees, Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira, Nick Swisher, Robinson Cano, Jorge Posada and Brett Gardner, had multi-hit games. The first Yankee run was scored in the second as Cano doubled to lead-off the inning and was driven in by a two-out single by Gardner. Each of the two also homered later in the game. Gardner hit a 3-3 pitch into the right field stands for his first round tripper of the year in the fourth.

He jokingly told reporters after the game, “Now I know how other guys feel when they hit them like that. That’s not my game.” The homer was Gardner’s first since June 26, 2009.  The outfielder is batting an impressive .342. One who is not surprised by Gardner’s productivity is manager Joe Girardi. After the game, he observed, “I’ve always thought of him [Gardner] as an everyday player. I love what he brings to the table.” The pitchers like him as well, Sunday’s starter, Phil Hughes, stated, “He’s [Gardner’s] been great. He tracks down everything in the outfield. Every time he’s on first, he seems to steal second.”

Cano’s three run homer in the fifth was the second baseman’s fifth of the young season. Cano’s .387 batting average ranks first in the majors and he is especially hot at the plate right now. Cano has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games with an average of .455 during that period. Nick Swisher hit a two-run homer in the sixth, his second straight game with a round tripper. He also singled twice. Mark Teixeira is obviously aware of the calendar. After his usual slow start in April, Teixeira’s bat has awakened this month. During the first month of the season, Teixeira only managed to hit safely 11 times. During the first two contests in May, Teixeira has six hits, two on May 1 and four on May 2.

In addition to the team’s fine hitting, four of its five starters are doing excellently. Phil Hughes earned his third victory by hurling seven innings of shutout ball. He gave up only four hits and a walk to lower his ERA to 1.44. Manager Girardi commented, “It’s hard to say that Hughes hasn’t done everything right for us. He’s doing everything you can ask of him.”

“Every time you win at the Garden, it’s awesome,” said St. John’s coach Norm Roberts who saw his team snap a three game losing streak and win 52-50, their first conference game of the season over the 11-6  Bear Cats.  “Every time you win a Big East game it’s awesome,” added Roberts.

His team is 11-5 overall, 1-3 and more importantly this was a win that was needed. Because now the Storm will be tested as they get into the thick of the conference schedule. St. John’s also snapped a three game losing streak to the Bearcats dropping two games they played against them last season.

And for Hardy, who matched a career high with 19 points, the win was extra special. He was the impact player from the Bronx who spoiled the homecoming of Bearcat freshman Lance Stephenson, the all-time PSAL scoring leader from Lincoln High School in Brooklyn who won four city championships on the same Garden floor,

Hardy would get fouled in the final moments of a game that saw both teams have their lowest point productions of the season. He went to the free throw line, made both, going a perfect 6-for-6 at the charity stripe. But those final moments, of an otherwise dull contest are what make Big East Basketball contests at the Garden so unique when two New York City players are involved in the outcome.

“We just wanted to spoil his homecoming basically,” said Hardy about his reunion with Stephenson who considered St. John’s but opted for Cincinnati. “They needed a win but we needed it more being that we didn’t have a win in Big East play.  So we just wanted to get in his head and keep him from scoring as many points as possible.”

Stephenson struggled, the entire game finishing with seven points and could not get the ball inbounds in the final seconds. Hardy would win the battle forcing two deciding turnovers that got him to the line. “There are a lot of positives except the last 10 seconds,” commented Cincinnati coach Mike Cronin who saw his team fall to 2-3 in the conference.

What Roberts hopes for is more significant play from Hardy. The close conference games like this one would not have been won by the Storm the past few years. “Everybody has a role and Hardy knows his role,” said Roberts adding that his point guard can score and be aggressive.

And more importantly, after losing a tough conference game at home to Providence last week in Queens, this win showed that the Storm may be getting close. “We’re going to have to grind it out to get confident in what we’re doing,” said Roberts, “because we’re really, really close.”

FORDHAM RETURNS TO GARDEN AND ANOTHER LOSS: In the second game of the Garden doubleheader the Fordham University Rams made their first appearance at the arena since 2002.  It was not a good return as Fordham lost their eighth straight losing to Dayton 74-58 in an Atlantic 10 Conference game.

It looked promising for the Rams, (2-13, 0-3) in the first half but Dayton went on a 11-0 run in the second half.   Brenton Butler led Fordham with 20 points and his 3-point basket with 10:33 left in the game was the last field goal for the Rams.

“I thought the kids played hard again but Dayton was able to constantly bring in fresh players from the bench” said interim head coach Jared Grasso who is 1-9 since replacing Dereck Whittenburg on December 3^rd. “I am proud of our effort but we have to be 40 minutes good, not 25 or 30.”

Next for the Rams is another conference tilt at their Rose Hill gym on Saturday against the Rhode Island Rams at 2pm.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

The Yankees so far have the advantage. Two big home runs from Mark Teixeira and Hadeki Matsui, and a six-out save from Mariano Rivera were the difference in game two Thursday evening as the Yankees evened the Series at a game apiece with a 3-1 win.

Now it is on the Philadelphia for the next three games that resume Saturday evening at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies are almost unbeatable in postseason play the past three years at home with an impressive 13-3 record.

So the Yankees knew that they had to get out of New York with a split after losing the first game of the Series attributed to the spectacular complete game pitched by the Phillies Cliff Lee. “The one thing that we’ve been able to do is we’ve seemed to bounce back” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. “It was just business as usual for us today.”

One thing is also certain as the series shifts to Philadelphia. The Phillies will play their brand of baseball, National League style with no designated hitter and they hit the home run ball well at home. Don’t expect their power to be silent, or Ryan Howard to strike out four times like he did in game 2..

So the momentum, even with the Yankees big win in game 2 may still be with the Phils. “I guess I am going to have to be,” commented Phils manager Charlie Manuel when asked if he was content about going home with a split, “I always like to be 2-0 over 1-1. But it is what it is. I’ve got to accept it.”

When Teixiera hit a home run leading off the fourth to the right field bullpen off a Martinez changeup, he broke a slump that tied the score and ignited the Yankee Stadium crowd of 50,181.  Pedro Martinez until then was as spectacular as Lee was the night before. He struck out eight which matched his second most ever in a postseason game.

But A.J, Burnett was just as good striking out nine the most for a Yankee in a postseason game since Mike Mussina fanned nine on October 21, 2003 in the third game of the World Series against Florida. He recorded his first career postseason career victory. “I threw a lot of first strikes and that allowed me to open up and expand the zone after that,” said Burnett.

He also got some incentive after watching Lee do what he did the previous night. “You know, actually I sat and watched the interview when he (Lee) was on the field and he talked about confidence and he talked about belief in his stuff, and all I told myself last night and today was the same thing.”

And Matsui made some adjustments. Perhaps tuning up for some more home runs at Citizens Bank Park after he put the Yankees ahead with two outs in the sixth hitting a low curve ball off Martinez with a home run to right. “I was able to make a good adjustment and fortunately it led to a good result,” said Matsui through a translator.

Martinez heard the calls from the Yankee crowd. The “Who’s your daddy chant” that carried over from his days when he pitched for the Boston Red Sox at the old Yankee Stadium.. He showed he is still a competitor, and though not throwing at 95 his breaking ball was effective allowing three runs on six hits in six innings.

“I made a couple of mistakes,’ he said. “Teixeira’s home run to me seems he hit a good pitch. Matsui I was disappointed because first of all, maybe the pitch wasn’t the one I would probably would have chosen .if I was to think again.” He wasn’t making excuses and admitted that the past few days he was not feeling well and not as strong.

For Martinez the one-year deal plus incentives from the Phillies has been worth it. And if this was his last time on the mound in New York it was worth the effort. He also struck out Alex Rodriquez three times. Rodriquez is 0-8 in the first two games.

“To participate, compete against a real good team, a very solid team, be able to put my team in position to catch up or win the game and at the same time tell myself that I made the right decision by coming back and getting the opportunity putting myself in the position to get an opportunity to pitch in the World Series,” he said.

In the end it was Rivera getting his third save this postseason, 10^th World Series save and 38^th overall. Girardi for the second time this postseason brought him in for a second six out save. Was that a lack of confidence by Girardi not going to Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes with the heart of the Phils power coming up in the eight and ninth inning?

Girardi would only say that Rivera, who threw 40 pitches, was available with the off day Friday. But there were certainly some questions or desperation on the part of Girardi having his closer come in to get the last six outs. But to Derek Jeter there is only one Mariano Rivera.

“Everybody is not Mo, that’s the best way to put it,” he said.  No pressure for Rivera in that situation and now it is up to Andy Pettitte, who gets the start Saturday to try and keep those Philadelphia hitters from using their home park to their advantage on Saturday.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring 786@aol.com

Sidelined since June 22 with a bone bruise on his right knee, Beltran missed 70 games and was one of the many offensive threats in the Mets lineup that went on the disabled list. Prior to his injury, New York trailed first place Philadelphia by two games in the NL East.

His team is playing out the schedule and perhaps shutting down and preparing for spring training was a better option for Beltran. The bruise has not completely healed but it is good enough to do what Beltran does best, that is perched in his spot out in center field and becoming the offensive threat the Mets hoped to have in what has become a dismal season.

There he was, Beltran leading off the second inning. The announced City Field crowd of 37, 474, but much smaller because of the fans who decided to stay home, gave Beltran a nice ovation. He struck out swinging but his mission was accomplished after a long rehab process.

“It felt good being out there with the boys,” he said.  “Today I felt like a kid in the playground, like when I take my daughter to the playground.  She’s having fun and that’s how I felt today. It felt good.”

Beltran looked good running the bases as he lofted a double to left field leading off the sixth inning. Same result though, with or without Beltran in the lineup as the Mets lost the first game of three to the Florida Marlins 4-2.  And Beltran almost became a hero in the seventh inning. His bases loaded fly ball to deep left was caught and the Marlins had their victory.

“I just got under that one,” he said.  It has been missing, that long ball threat in the Mets lineup since Beltran went down along with Carlos Delgado.  There was also a sliding catch in center off a ball hit by the Marlins Jorge Cantu in the eighth inning.  Mets manager Jerry Manuel could be seen smiling after the catch but will be cautious when using Beltran for the remainder of the schedule.

Though Manuel and the Mets lost another one, it was a reprieve to see one of their regular guys back in the fold. “It will probably take him a few games to really find his rhythm at the plate,” commented Manuel. “I think once that starts he will get on track. He looked pretty good.”

Manuel thought that eighth inning drive to left would make it.  “He gave it a pretty good ride,” said the Mets manager. But with the bases loaded this season and two outs the Mets are batting an abysmal .073.  A healthy Beltran next season, along with David Wright and perhaps Delgado, or another potent hitter can make a difference with the bases loaded. For now though, having Beltran in the lineup again can bring some optimism during this dull September stretch at Citi Field.

Hanley Ramirez and Cameron Maybin supplied the runs for Florida hitting two-run homers off Mets starter Tim Redding (2-5) in the third and fourth innings. Florida, with the lowest team payroll in baseball stayed in the playoff hunt, six games behind the first place Phillies in the NL east division and 5/1-2 behind NL wild card leader Colorado.

“Probably the worst day I had command with a fastball,” said Redding who threw 102 pitches in five innings. “When you’re not locating your best pitch the other team knows that,” he said.  Luis Castillo went 3-for-4 and his fifth inning single to second base, which allowed Angel Pagan to score form third, was his 38^th infield hit which tied him for the National League lead with Michael Boum of Houston.

But the attention was on Beltran who could make the final weeks of the season a little more interesting for Manuel and Mets fans. And even more interesting if Delgado returns as expected next week.

Second game of the three game series Wednesday evening at Citi Field and Beltran is expected to be in the cleanup spot again.  “The knee feels good,” said Beltran. And those are good enough words to hear for the Mets and their fans in what has been a season of all bad news.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

“We won the two games and that’s the most important thing,” said Jeter who needs three hits to tie Gehrig’s record of 2,721 hits. It marked the first time in his career he went hitless in both games of a doubleheader.

Left hander CC Sabathia allowed one run in seven innings and recorded a no decision in the first game and Phil Hughes (6-3) came in from the pen and got the win. Alex Rodriguez went 3-for-3 and Mariano Rivera recorded his 39^th save in 40 opportunities in the first game win.

“Kind of interesting that he did not get a hit tonight,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi about Jeter. “The guys are really pulling for him. It will save us a little energy when he gets over this,” he commented about the Yankee captain who went a combined 0-for-8 in both games.

.There appears to be no pressure though with Jeter as close as he is to surpassing a Yankees legend in the record books.  To him wins are more important. “What can you do it’s one of those days. We come back and play tomorrow.”

New York improved to a season high 39-games over .500 their highest mark since the final day of the 2004 season when they were 40 games over.  The Yankees 7-9 hitters in the second game went 8-for 11 with three runs, a double, and four ruins batted in.

“We still have a long ways to go to what we want to accomplish,” added Girardi who saw his Yankees increase their division lead to a season high 9.0 games ahead of Boston in the American League East. The Yankees scored eight runs on eight hits in the third inning in their second game win helping starter A.J. Burnett (11-8) to an easy win.

Mark Teixeira recorded his third multi-home run game of the season helping Burnett in that third inning and later hit his 35^th home run of the season in the sixth inning. “I have felt good here for quite a while and hit a nice line drive out of there,” said Teixeira about the first home run in the third inning to deep center.

Game three of the series with Tampa is Tuesday evening at the Stadium.  Tampa, the defending American League champions with slim playoff hopes will send (7-7) David Price to the mound opposing right hander Chad Gaudin (1-0) of the Yankees.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring 786@aol.com