Tri-Nando Leads Resilient Mets to Huge Win

The Mets set a major league record yesterday by having 3 players named "Fernando" in the same starting lineup. Seriously - they keep stats like that! Fernando Tatis scored twice and went one-for-four with a big rbi, Fernando Martinez had 3 hits to raise his average to .333, and the big story was Fernando Nieves baffling Yankee hitters for his first win in over 3 years.

In the shadow of one of the worst losses in the history of the franchise, Nieves came up huge for the Mets in perhaps the most important game of the season thus far. The Mets simply could not have lost this game - and very few Met fans had any confidence the game's outcome would favor their team - us included. But a 6-2 final went the Mets way, and as a result, perhaps the "drop game" isn't as devastating as it could have been.

Omir Santos had a huge day as well, driving in 3 runs with a homerun while raising his batting average to the .300 level. Even the much maligned Luis Castillo had two hits to go along with his flawless fielding. (He also got a nice standing ovation in his first at bat leading off the game at Yankee stadium - why he was even playing is another story which we won't get into right now since we're all in a good mood after a big win).

The Mets finished the game with a season-high 17 hits and did not commit an error in one of their tightest all-around games of the year. Sheffield went "Field" and every batter in the Mets lineup got at least one hit. You can sense the urgency in the way Jerry Manuel managed the game, sending KRod out in the ninth in a non-save situation. Of course he came through again - just like he did Friday night.

Let's hope Fernando-mania lives again in the upcoming games (they're not getting easier according to the schedule). Here's the MetsFanClub.com official apology to Nieves: "We're sorry for doubting your ability to come up big in this MUST-WIN game". And here's the MetsFanClub.com official forgiveness to Luis Castillo: "Luis, Fernando saved you. You're forgiven".

And here's the MetsFanClub.com official warning to the Yankees: "We've got Johan going today... you're lucky you're not getting swept"