MET NOTES
Willie Randolph reprimanded Lastings Milledge for celebrating his first major-league homer – a dramatic game-tying solo shot in yesterday’s 10th inning – by taking a detour to high-five fans on his way out to right field to start the next inning.
“It will not happen again,” Randolph said after the Mets’ 7-6 loss to the Giants in 12 innings.
Milledge seemed a bit embarrassed that he had to talk about the high fives instead of his home run.
“It was a rookie mistake,” Milledge said.
After the game, Milledge also looked a little disoriented as he wandered around the clubhouse trying to figure out the proper dress code attire for the plane ride to Los Angeles.
Finally, Carlos Beltran, known as the best dresser on the team, took him aside and hooked him up with the right jacket and pants ensemble so he could catch the team bus to the airport.
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In the 10th, Aaron Heilman gave up two runs and would have been the loser if not for Milledge’s and new starting second baseman Jose Valentin‘s home runs. . . . Yesterday was the Mets’ 11th extra-inning game in 55 outings. Randolph said he didn’t contemplate leaving Steve Trachsel in the game after 101 pitches in seven innings. . . . Tom Glavine confirmed he will start on Wednesday in Los Angeles on three days rest. Glavine was taken out in the seventh inning Saturday night after he threw 85 pitches so he could start again on short rest. . . . Beltran returned to the starting lineup yesterday. After fouling a ball off his right knee Wednesday, Beltran only pinch-hit on Saturday. He went 1-for-6. . . . In the third inning, Jose Reyes went 45 feet down the third base line as he faked stealing home several times. Randolph said Reyes had the green light to go, but with Carlos Delgado at the plate, Reyes chose not to.
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Regular right fielder Xavier Nady was in the clubhouse yesterday for the first time since his appendectomy a week ago. There is no timetable for Nady’s return, but he is looking forward to it.
“I’m bored out of my mind,” said Nady, who has spent most of the past week on his couch.
Nady is scheduled to see a doctor in New York on Friday to get more of a progress report.
Pitching matchups against the Dodgers: Tonight: Alay Soler (0-1, 7.36) vs. Brett Tomko (5-3, 4.38 ERA); Tomorrow: Pedro Martinez (5-1, 2.50) vs. Derek Lowe (4-3, 2.68); Wednesday: Glavine (8-2, 2.59) vs. Odalis Perez (4-1, 6.05).
