NEW YORK (AP) -Gary Sheffield thought it was fitting that his 500th home run was a liner to left field.
Sheffield unleashed one of his vicious swings to connect on a full-count pitch off Mitch Stetter in the seventh inning of the New York Mets’ 5-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.
“Just my typical home run,” Sheffield said, with a rare grin.
Sheffield became the 25th player to reach the milestone when he tied the game at 4 with a 385-foot drive for his first hit of the season.
While he couldn’t see the flight of the ball because of the camera flashes going off at Citi Field, Sheffield did see his teammates of just two weeks rushing onto the field to greet him.
“I was so excited that, you know, when I looked over to the dugout, those were the guys,” said Sheffield, who signed with New York on April 4 after being released by Detroit four days earlier. “I appreciate every one of those guys. They’ve been very special to me.”
Sheffield pumped both arms in the air as he began to round the bases. He touched home plate and pointed to the sky with both arms before hugging on-deck batter Jose Reyes.
for a curtain call, waving his helmet to the crowd of 36,436.
“That was just a great reception,” Sheffield said. “I was so numb at that time.”
The homer, his second as a pinch-hitter, was caught by Chris Matcovich, a 22-year-old Mets fan from Suffern, N.Y., wearing a Keith Hernandez jersey. He traded the ball for several jerseys and had his picture taken with Sheffield.
At 40 years, 143 days, Sheffield became the fourth-oldest player to hit 500 home runs behind Willie McCovey (40 years, 171 days), Eddie Murray (40, 194) and Ted Williams (41, 291).
Known as much for his outspoken personality as he is for a swing that made him one of the most feared hitters in the game, Sheffield joined Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Barry Bonds, Frank Robinson and Reggie Jackson as the only players with 500 homers and at least 2,500 hits, 1,500 RBIs and 200 stolen bases.
“I wished it didn’t come at that time but you gotta tip your cap,” Milwaukee’s Prince Fielder said. “I mean, he’s had a great career. Also, when he got it man, I mean that was a great at-bat as well. He fouled off some great pitches and he was able to do it. I didn’t want to lose the game but I’m happy he was able to reach a goal like that.”
ing training at-bats this year.
The Mets had another on-field celebration in the bottom of the ninth, when Luis Castillo hit a two-out, run-scoring single off Seth McClung (0-1) to help the Mets improve to 5-5.
“It was huge for him,” Manager Jerry Manuel said. “He really has shown a lot of energy, you know, a lot of fight, and I kind of had the feeling that he wanted to be in that situation tonight, and that’s a good thing.”
New York’s revamped bullpen gave up just one hit over the final four innings, with J.J. Putz (1-0) pitching a perfect ninth for his first win with the Mets.
Ryan Braun hit a three-run homer to give Milwaukee a 4-3 lead in the sixth.
Cubs 8, Cardinals 7
In Chicago, after striking out three times earlier in the game, Alfonso Soriano hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning to rally Chicago past St. Louis.
It was the second game-winning homer in a week for Soriano, who sent a 1-2 pitch from Chris Perez (0-1) into the left-field bleachers.
The Cardinals, losing for the second time in nine games, couldn’t score the tying run after Carlos Marmol walked Colby Rasmus and hit Albert Pujols with a pitch to start the ninth. Ryan Ludwick, who had hit two home runs, struck out, and pinch-hitter Khalil Greene grounded into a game-ending double play.
Aaron Heilman (2-0) got the victory with one scoreless inning of relief.
Pirates 3, Braves 0
In Pittsburgh, Paul Maholm combined with two relievers on a six-hitter and Pittsburgh handed Atlanta its fourth straight loss.
Maholm (2-0) pitched seven innings, allowing four hits. The left-hander, who worked around three walks, two hit batters and a balk, lowered his ERA to 0.87 in winning his first home start of the season.
John Grabow allowed two hits in the eighth inning, and Matt Capps pitched a perfect ninth for his third save.
Nate McLouth hit a two-run homer and Freddy Sanchez added two hits for Pittsburgh.
Jair Jurrjens (2-1) struck out seven in 6 2-3 innings for Atlanta, allowing one run and four hits.
Padres 8, Phillies 7
In Philadelphia, Scott Hairston homered and hit a go-ahead two-run double in the eighth inning, helping San Diego overcome a six-run deficit.
The World Series champion Phillies honored broadcaster Harry Kalas in a moving ceremony before the game. The Hall of Fame announcer died Monday in Washington after collapsing in the broadcast booth before a game against the Nationals. He was 73.
Chase Utley, one of Kalas’ favorite players, hit a three-run homer, but the Phillies got another shaky outing from Cole Hamels and setup man Ryan Madson (0-1) gave up three runs in the eighth.
Luis Rodriguez and Nick Hundley also homered for the Padres, who got a poor outing from Chris Young.
win. Duaner Sanchez worked the eighth and Heath Bell finished for his sixth save.
Marlins 3, Nationals 2, 10 innings
In Washington, Jeremy Hermida hit a run-scoring infield single in the 10th inning to lift Florida to its fifth straight win.
Florida’s 9-1 record is the best start in franchise history, topping the 1997 and 2004 Marlins who both opened 8-1.
Jorge Cantu got the decisive rally started with a two-out single off Saul Rivera (0-2) and moved to third on Dan Uggla’s bloop hit to right. Hermida hit a grounder deep in the hole at shortstop, and Alberto Gonzalez’s only play was a late throw to first.
Leo Nunez (1-0) pitched a scoreless ninth. Matt Lindstrom worked the 10th for his second save, getting three outs after allowing a leadoff double to Elijah Dukes.
Reds 2, Astros 1
In Houston, Ramon Hernandez hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning to lift Cincinnati.
Jose Valverde (0-1), who missed Thursday’s game with a back strain, walked Edwin Encarnacion with one out in the ninth before Hernandez hit his first homer over the right-field fence. It was Valverde’s first blown save of the year.
Nick Masset (1-0) pitched 1 1-3 scoreless innings to get the win and Francisco Cordero got three outs for his third save in three attempts.
Giants 2, Diamondbacks 0
n Francisco snapped a six-game losing streak.
Sanchez (1-1) allowed just two hits and struck out four. He walked four but didn’t allow a runner past second base.
Jeremy Affeldt, Bob Howry and Brian Wilson finished the three-hitter. Wilson recorded the final four outs for his first save of the season.
Dan Haren (0-3) struck out six and allowed just one run in six sharp innings.
Dodgers 4, Rockies 3
In Los Angeles, Mark Loretta capped a four-run seventh inning with a go-ahead RBI single, and Los Angeles won its sixth straight.
Jorge De La Rosa pitched 5 1-3 scoreless innings for the Rockies, allowing five hits and departing with a 3-0 lead after walking two batters in the sixth. Glendon Rusch got pinch-hitter James Loney to ground into an inning-ending double play, but the defending NL West champions pulled ahead one inning later.
Alan Embree (0-1) gave up a run-scoring grounder to Matt Kemp and an RBI double to Andre Ethier.
Guillermo Mota (1-0) pitched a scoreless seventh inning for the victory. Jonathan Broxton got five outs for his fourth save.
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