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Angel in the Infield

So this is what it's come to, celebrating the arrival of mediocre, journeymen has-beens (whatever happened to Wilson Valdez?). If we must, we must.

Angel Berroa beat the Mets with a walk-off hit once, something of which I have no recollection.

The game took place on June 12, 2004 and the Mets were in the midst of a 5-game losing streak. This was one that would have fit in well in 2009.

A 2-0 Mets lead disappeared when Berroa hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning against Al Leiter. In the seventh, Leiter found success against Berroa, getting him to pop out to help escape a runner on third, one-out jam.

The Royals took the lead in the home eighth when Carlos Beltran singled, stole second (Joe McEwing failed to get down a tag) and scored on Mike Sweeney's hit off David Weathers.

The Mets tied the game in the ninth on Todd Zeile's RBI double, but Zeile would get doubled off second on Kaz Matsui's fly out to end the inning. Zeile evidently was at home plate when the double play was completed. It was one of four double plays the Mets hit into during this game.

The Royals would win in regulation and the three playerswho batted in the inning all have a Mets connection. Met in Name but Not In Game Joe Randa led off with a hit, and pinch-runner Wilton Guerrero would move to second on Kelly Stinnett's sacrifice (The game stories note Guerrero would have been out easily at second if Weathers handled the bunt cleanly). Berroa followed with a single to right that plated the winning run.

Newspaper accounts note that Mets catcher Vince Wilson tagged Guerrero with his glove, while holding the ball in his bare hand, a very 2009ian kind of miscue.

"Overall, we played one of our poorer games of the year," Howe told reporters afterwards. "We got what we deserved right there."

True Metroas know...Angel Berroa won the 2003 AL Rookie of the Year Award. He'll be the 5th AL Rookie of the Year to play for the Mets,

AL Rookie of The Year Winners
Played for Mets

Sandy Alomar
Carlos Beltran
Eddie Murray
Tommie Agee

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