MIAMI - The New York Mets hope Orlando Hernandez can
rekindle some of the magic he had with their crosstown rival
earlier in his career.
Four days after he was acquired in a trade with the Arizona
Diamondbacks, Hernandez makes his Mets debut on Sunday in the
rubber game of a three-game set with the Florida Marlins.
The 36-year-old Hernandez (2-4, 6.11 ERA) earned a reputation as
a big-game pitcher from 1998-2000, helping the New York Yankees
to three World Series titles along the way.
The Cuban righthander sparked the Chicago White Sox win a
championship last season, but struggled in his first campaign
with the Diamondbacks. However, he did have one of his best
starts of the season Monday vs. Pittsburgh, allowing one run and
striking out a season-high nine in seven innings.
Florida gives the ball to rookie Ricky Nolasco (3-1, 2.89), who
makes his 14th appearance and third start of the season. The
23-year-old righthander was impressive Monday, holding the
Chicago Cubs to one run and four hits over seven innings of a
9-1 victory.
The Mets avoided their first three-game losing streak of the
season Saturday, recording a 7-4 triumph as David Wright
collected four hits and two RBIs. Carlos Delgado also drove in a
pair of runs in support of Tom Glavine, who worked 7 2/3 strong
innings to become the majors' second eight-game winner.
Reggie Abercrombie had three hits and scored twice for the
Marlins, who had their season-best four-game winning streak
snapped.