Mets 4
Astros 2
He may not want to admit it, but Al Leiter is the most consistent thing the Mets have right now.
Five times he’s taken the mound this season as various turmoil surrounded the club, and five times the 37-year-old lefty has given his team an excellent chance to win.
With one starter going on the shelf yesterday and another coming off today, Leiter (3-0) blocked out the external distractions and pitched the Mets to a 4-2 victory over Houston at Shea.
“I try not to think about all of those hypotheticals,” Leiter said. “If you take on, ‘They really need me because A, B, C or D,’ my mind isn’t where I need it to be.
“Those things prevent you from doing your best.”
Leiter, who entered last night eighth in the National League in ERA, was at his best pitching out of constant trouble. He outdueled Houston ace Roy Oswalt (2-2) over six innings before David Weathers and Armando Benitez held off the Astros.
David Cone could conceivably not pitch again due to mild arthritis in his left hip, and nobody knows what Pedro Astacio’s return tonight will yield. Thus, Leiter’s effort (seven hits, two earned runs) was appreciated.
“He’s doing a fine job,” Art Howe said. “He hasn’t given up much. He’s at the top of his game, I’ll tell you that.”
Benitez seemed to return to his game. The closer allowed a one-out double to pinch-hitter Orlando Merced in the ninth but otherwise regained his overpowering form, whiffing Jose Vizcaino on a nasty splitter for his sixth save.
“I feel very good. I’m more comfortable,” said Benitez, who has tinkered with his mechanics.
Before the game, the Mets (9-12) placed both Cone (strained left hip) and Jeromy Burnitz (broken left hand) on the disabled list.
Astacio was officially announced as tonight’s starter, as “The Mula” was activated. Astacio isn’t throwing 93 mph consistently, but the Mets expect six solid innings from him.
That’s what Leiter gave the team after receiving a 3-0 lead against Oswalt after the third.
The Mets scratched a first-inning run off Oswalt after Timo Perez made a daredevil move from first to third on Cliff Floyd’s single to center. Perez challenged Craig Biggio’s arm successfully and scored on Mo Vaughn’s RBI groundout.
As one of seven moves made before the game, the team purchased the contract of outfielder Raul Gonzalez, who played right field in Burnitz’s absence. Gonzalez was dropped from the 40-man roster at the end of spring training after hitting .176 (6-for-34) in 17 games.
Gonzalez, hitting .383 with 12 RBIs at Triple-A Norfolk, smashed the second pitch he saw from Oswalt for a solo homer. Gonzalez led off the second inning with a 385-foot shot to left-center, pushing the Mets’ lead to 2-0.
“It’s awesome. It’s a great feeling you can’t describe,” Gonzalez said.
Jeff Bagwell singled home two runs in the fifth to cut the Mets’ lead to 3-2, but an insurance run in the eighth on Jay Bell’s sac fly allowed Benitez breathing room.
