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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
NEW YORK -- For Robin Ventura, the formula is simple. Get up
with the bases loaded. Get ahead on the count. Make the pitcher
come in with something to hit and then hit it.
The recipe worked again Tuesday night when Ventura hit his 14th
career grand slam in a 10-7 victory over Milwaukee as Mike Hampton
won his first game after three losses.
|  | | Robin Ventura is greeted by Derek Bell as he crosses the plate after his grand slam Tuesday. |
The homer gave Ventura the grand slam lead among active players,
one ahead of Mark McGwire, Ken Griffey Jr., and Harold Baines, and
tied him with Gil Hodges for ninth place on the career list.
Ventura credited Mike Piazza, who bats in front of him, for the
chance at the slam.
"It happens a lot when Mike is swinging the bat as well as he
is," he said. "If I'm swinging the bat well, maybe it happens."
Ventura had Jaime Navarro (0-3) cornered, ahead on the count 2-0
in the fourth inning with the Mets leading 5-2.
"He doesn't want to walk anybody in," Ventura said. "He left
a pitch up that I could get to. I don't plan it. It's an
opportunity you get from other guys in front of you."
Milwaukee manager Davey Lopes agreed that the ball-strike count
was the key.
"I thought Jaime threw the ball pretty good, but he fell behind
on Ventura and it's lights out," he said. "You can't make
mistakes against guys like this."
The slam opened a seven-run lead for Hampton, who again
struggled with his control but won his first game for the Mets
after losing his first three starts.
"I was able to relax a bit, something I've been missing," the
left-hander said. "The first one's tough. You like to get off to a
quick start. I look forward to getting better from here."
Hampton (1-3), who went 22-4 last year for Houston, again
struggled with his control. That cost him a pair of runs in the
second inning when he walked the bases loaded, and another run in
the eighth when he forced in a run on a bases-loaded walk. When
Jose Hernandez singled for two more, Hampton's night was over after
7 2/3 innings.
On a blustery night when the wind chill dipped to 26 degrees,
Hampton allowed six hits with seven strikeouts and six walks.
Mets manager Bobby Valentine was impressed, though.
"He was throwing pitches for strikes other than fastballs,"
the manager said. "It was a terrific performance. His cadence on
the mound seemed better. There was one more beat in his windup and
stretch rather than rushing his foot to the mound."
Lopes thought the big lead helped Hampton.
"He got a 9-2 lead and he got comfortable," Lopes said. "I
would, too."
The Mets were leading 4-2 in the fourth when Hampton singled
with one out. He advanced on a wild pitch and after Jon Nunnally
popped up, Derek Bell walked. Edgardo Alfonzo's second RBI double
scored Hampton and then Mike Piazza walked, loading the bases for
Ventura. He connected on a 2-0 pitch, sending an 88 mph fastball
380 feet over the right-field wall.
The Mets jumped in front with four runs in the first inning
against Navarro. Nunnally opened with a pop fly double that the
wind carried out of the reach of center fielder Marquis Grissom.
After Bell struck out, Nunnally stole third and scored on Alfonzo's
double to right center.
Piazza singled Alfonzo home and after Ventura walked, Todd
Zeile's single and a sacrifice fly by Jay Payton made it 4-0.
Hampton gave two of the runs back in the second, loading the
bases on walks to Charlie Hayes, James Mouton and Ron Belliard
before Raul Casanova singled two runs home. But Navarro popped up
trying to sacrifice and Grissom struck out, ending the inning.
Hampton settled in after that before tiring in the eighth when
he walked in a run and gave up a two-run single to Jose Hernandez.
Ex-Met Luis Lopez doubled home a run as the Brewers scored two in
the ninth and Armando Benitez came on for his fifth save.
Game notes
Piazza, who was NL Player of the Week after going 13-for-21,
extended his hitting streak to seven straight games with two hits.
... Hampton reached base four times on two singles and two walks.
... The Brewers ended a streak of eight games in which they had
committed at least one error. ... Ventura's slam gave him two home
runs and 10 RBIs in the last two games. ... Alfonzo's three doubles
tied a Mets club record.
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Baseball Scoreboard
Milwaukee Clubhouse
NY Mets Clubhouse
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