Wednesday, May 01, 2002
Mets 10, Diamondbacks 1
The Associated Press
PHOENIX — Thanks largely to Mike Piazza's big return to the lineup, Al Leiter is the first pitcher to beat all 30 teams in the majors. Piazza homered in his first two at-bats Tuesday night and drove in six runs after missing five games with a strained hamstring as the New York Mets won their fifth straight with a 10-1 rout of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“He doesn't hold the bat in his hamstring, I know that,” Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly said, “and we made some bad pitches to him.”
Arizona was the only team that Leiter had not beaten in a career that has included stops with the New York Yankees, Toronto, Florida and the Mets.
“I believe this is the only stadium where I have not won in the major leagues,” Leiter said. “I was joking with the guys and said "I've never lost with 10. Get me 10 and I think I can win this one,' and they did.”
Piazza's six RBIs were his most with the Mets and one short of his career high.
“It looked like he was making up for some lost time,” New York manager Bobby Valentine said. “He said he felt good the whole night. That's good news for us and hopefully bad news for the opposition.
“When Mike's rested and healthy, he's as good a hitter as there is in baseball.”
Piazza's three-run drive in the first inning and two-run shot in the second, both off Diamondbacks starter Rick Helling, gave Leiter all the support he needed.
“Welcome back Mike,” Leiter said. “How about that?”
Piazza got a sixth RBI in the third when he grounded out with the bases loaded and one out. It was Piazza's 29th career multihomer game and second this year. He has seven home runs this season.
Piazza credited showing up early for extra batting practice.
“Usually when you come out after a layoff, you have too much adrenaline,” he said. “I came out here and took some extra swings so I felt a little more relaxed, so I wasn't so anxious.”
Leiter (3-1) was 0-3 against the Diamondbacks coming in with a 5.40 ERA, including 0-2 with an 8.71 ERA at Bank One Ballpark. This time, he allowed only an unearned run on three hits in seven innings. He struck out two, walked none and hit two batters.
Roberto Alomar was 3-for-4 with a triple and scored twice as the first five hitters in the Mets' batting order had at least two hits apiece.
After Alomar and Mo Vaughn singled in the first inning, Piazza hit Helling's 2-1 pitch 419 feet onto the swimming pool deck in right-center.
In the second, Alomar tripled and scored on a fielder's choice, then Piazza hit Helling's 1-1 pitch into the left-field seats to put New York up 6-0.
Joe McEwing's two-run homer — the 10th home run Helling has allowed this season — made it 8-0 in the third.
“I've got no excuses,” Helling said. “I never make any excuses when I pitch bad. I just didn't get the job done. It's completely my fault that we lost tonight, and I take full responsibility.”
Helling (3-3) allowed nine runs, eight earned, on eight hits in 2 1-3 innings and was booed loudly as he left the game. Brian Anderson relieved and gave up three consecutive singles, the last by Mo Vaughn driving in New York's ninth run.
Piazza followed with his RBI grounder, and the Mets led 10-0.
As if a nine-run loss wasn't bad enough, the Diamondbacks announced that Randy Johnson has been scratched from his scheduled start Wednesday night because of a lower back strain. Todd Stottlemyre will start in Johnson's place.
Johnson, 6-0 in April, is expected to start either this weekend against Montreal or Monday against Pittsburgh.
Notes: Piazza had seven RBIs for Los Angeles at Philadelphia on Aug. 27, 1995. ... The Mets' club record for RBIs in a game is eight by Dave Kingman at Los Angeles on June 4, 1976. ... The Mets committed three errors and have 32 in 26 games this season, by far the most in the majors. ... Arizona optioned right-hander Bret Prinz to Triple-A Tucson and purchased the minor league contract of right-hander Jose Parra. Parra, who came on in relief Tuesday, will inherit Prinz's role as right-handed setup man. ... The Mets activated right-hander Satoru Komiyama from the 15-day DL and designated right-hander Pete Walker for assignment.
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Mets 10, Diamondbacks 1 
