CINCINNATI — Daniel Murphy picked up right where he left off from his sizzling rookie year.
The Mets’ young left fielder blasted just his third career home run — a solo shot — off Aaron Harang in the fifth inning of a 2-1 Opening Day win yesterday.
It was part of a 1-for-5, two RBI day for Murphy, who also played passable defense in left despite the chilly, wet conditions.
“I’m not comparing him to this, but that at-bat that he had [on the homer] reminded me of some of Frank Thomas’ at-bats,” said Jerry Manuel, who managed Thomas with the White Sox.
Murphy was incredulous at the comparison to Thomas, among the game’s most feared hitters in the 1990s.
“Whaaat?” Murphy said when Manuel’s comment was relayed. “The guy’s won back-to-back MVPs and is going to be a Hall of Famer. I’ll take that.”
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The planned Gary Sheffield takeover in right field will have to wait another day.
No doubt motivated by the Mets’ decision to bring in the 40-year-old slugger at his spot last weekend, Ryan Church proved pivotal here yesterday.
As well as going 2-for-4, Church’s sliding catch in right to start a double play in the second inning stifled a potential Cincinnati uprising against Mets starter Johan Santana.
Church, likely to move into a reserve role once the Mets decide Sheffield is in shape to play the outfield, once again sidestepped the Sheffield question.
“Is it a good feeling after what happened [with Sheffield’s signing] last week? I don’t really look at it like that,” Church said. “That’s just what I do. If I don’t get hits, I want to help out on defense. That’s just how I am.”
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Church wasn’t the only one with a defensive gem. David Wright also flashed a nifty glove on a scorching ground ball to third by Alex Gonzalez in the seventh . . . The Mets are auctioning off the remaining tickets for next Wednesday’s home opener at Citi Field. Until tomorrow at 5 p.m. fans can bid online for two or four tickets to the 7:10 p.m. game against the Padres. Multiple bids are not allowed.
One hundred tickets were available in the online auction. Tickets have a list price of $525 (Delta Club Gold), $315 (Delta Club Silver), $280 (Ebbets Club) and $210 (Metropolitan Box), and 11 locations were listed. As of 10:30 last night, the minimum bids for each section were $610, $510, $340 and $310. –With AP
