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  Saturday, Mar. 11 7:10pm ET
New York 4, Montreal 2
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) _ Mike Hampton allowed one run in five innings and Rey Ordonez hit his third homer of the spring as the New York Mets beat the Montreal Expos 4-2 on Saturday night.

Hampton, acquired from Houston in the offseason, gave up five hits and struck out four to pick up his first win of the spring.

``I felt really good, I hit spots a little more, besides the fifth inning,'' Hampton said. ``I got the ball up in the fifth and was a little tired, but for the most part I felt good.''

Jay Payton and Kurt Abbott also hit solo homers for New York.

Hampton took a one-hitter into the fifth inning, having allowed a triple to Vladimir Guerrero in the second inning. But Guerrero was cut down at the plate on a ground ball hit to Charlie Hayes at third base.

The Mets took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning on consecutive singles by Edgardo Alfonzo, Mike Piazza and Todd Zeile who picked up the RBI off Montreal starter Javier Vazquez.

Montreal tied the game at 1 in the fifth inning after Jose Vidro singled and went to second on a passed ball, followed by Brad Fullmer's RBI single.

But the Mets took a 3-1 lead with their home run power in the bottom half of the frame.

Ordonez, who has four homers in 1,883 career at-bats, lead off the inning with a homer and Jay Payton hit an opposite field home run to right field off Montreal reliever Mike Johnson.

``Rey's had a much more consistent swing this spring,'' Mets manager Bobby Valentine said. ``Jay's a very, very talented player, there's no doubt in my mind. I'm not sure there are many guys who can hit a line drive over the right field fence like that.''

Montreal cut New York's lead to 3-2 in the sixth inning on an RBI double by Patrick Lennon off John Franco who pitched an inning.

Notes: Garth Brooks received the key to the city of Port St. Lucie before the game. He pinch hit in the eighth inning and grounded out to second base. He is 0-for-7. ... Ordonez's three home runs this spring are his first ever in the exhibition season. ... The Mets worked out right-handed pitcher Rene Arocha before the game. Arocha pitched in the Mexican League last season and has pitched for the Cardinals and Giants previously.

 


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