Mets Overcome Agbayani’s Mistake

The blank expression on Benny Agbayani’s face after he cost the Mets a run turned to one of relief after it didn’t lose the game for New York.

Agbayani allowed a run to score when he handed the ball to a 7-year-old fan in the stands when there were only two out, but the Mets rallied to defeat the San Francisco Giants, 3-2, Saturday night at New York on Todd Zeile’s two-run double in the seventh inning.

It was the Mets’ 15th win in 18 games.

“I screwed up. I’m very sorry,” Agbayani said. “It was a bad play, a mental lapse. It shouldn’t have happened, but I’m glad we won.”

Down 1-0 in the fourth, the Giants loaded the bases with one out and Bobby Estalella hit a lazy fly to left field. Agbayani, who mistook the two strikes on the scoreboard for two outs, ran toward the line to make the catch.

With the Giants’ Jeff Kent tagging from third base, Agbayani jogged toward the seats.

“Everyone was screaming a collective ‘Benny!’ at the top of their lungs,” Zeile said. “Obviously this was one of those mental blocks.”

Agbayani handed the ball to fan Jake Burns, who broke into a big smile.

But as soon as Agbayani gave the ball away, another fan appeared to shout that there were only two out and second baseman Edgardo Alfonzo was waving his arms frantically. But it was too late.

After Agbayani warmed up in the top of the fifth, he directed that the ball be given to the boy.

Pittsburgh 9, Arizona 6--Kevin Young’s infield single turned into two runs as third baseman Matt Williams threw wildly in the seventh inning at Pittsburgh, ending the Pirates’ six-game losing streak against pitcher Curt Schilling.

Aramis Ramirez hit a grand slam in the eighth off reliever Johnny Ruffin and drove in five runs as the Pirates won for only the third time in 11 games.

Schilling (9-7) had been 3-0 since being traded to Arizona from Philadelphia and was 9-1 in his last 10 starts against the Pirates before allowing five runs and eight hits in seven innings.

Cincinnati 3, Chicago 0--Jason LaRue homered twice and Ken Griffey Jr. reached 100 RBIs for the fifth consecutive season, leading the Reds over the Cubs at Chicago.

Scott Williamson (5-7) pitched seven shutout innings, striking out Sammy Sosa three consecutive times.

St. Louis 2, Milwaukee 1--Will Clark drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk from Curtis Leskanic in the 12th inning as the Cardinals defeated the Brewers at Milwaukee.

With the bases loaded, Leskanic struck out Craig Paquette and Jim Edmonds, but his close full-count pitch to Clark was called a ball by umpire Phil Cuzzi.

Colorado 14, Montreal 2--Jeff Cirillo went four for six with a career-high seven RBIs and Larry Walker had his fourth four-hit game of the season to lead the Rockies at Montreal.

Colorado, which on May 3 set a team record with 24 hits in a 16-7 rout of the Expos at Coors Field, had 22 hits off five pitchers.

San Diego 2, Florida 1--Eric Owens blooped a single with two out in the 10th inning to break a scoreless tie as the Padres won at Miami.

Philadelphia 3, Houston 2--Robert Person (6-4) pitched 7 1/3 strong innings and the Phillies defeated the Astros at Philadelphia.