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Franco ruins Acta's return to New York

Apr 14, 2007 - 3:56 AM FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- Manny Acta's return to New York was spoiled by a player 10 years his elder.

Pinch hitter Julio Franco delivered an RBI single to break a seventh-inning tie as the New York Mets edged the Washington Nationals, 3-2, in the opener of a three-game series.

The game marked a reunion for Acta, the 38-year-old first-year manager who spent the last two seasons as third base coach of the Mets under Willie Randolph. Acta had a chance to see firsthand the importance of Franco, who at 48 is the oldest player in the major leagues.

"There is a reason he has been around so long," Acta said. "He knows what to do to get ready for a game."

David Wright, who had extended his hitting streak to 22 games with a single five innings earlier, singled off Ryan Wagner (1-1) to open the seventh. Wright stole second and scored when Franco grounded a two-out single up the middle.

"He's the type of pitcher whose ball breaks down. I'm just looking for a ball to hit down," Franco said. "I never try to maneuver the ball. I just try to hit it hard."

In his previous three plate appearances, all as a pinch hitter, he walked twice and hit a sacrifice fly.

Aaron Heilman (1-1) retired the only batter he faced in the seventh to earn the win. Scott Schoeneweis pitched the eighth and Billy Wagner logged the ninth for his third save.

Rookie Mike Pelfrey made his first start of the season, allowing two runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings. He won the job of fifth starter in spring training but began the year in the minors because the Mets had three scheduled off days in the first two weeks of the season.

"It was one of those nights where I thought my command was good, but it was off a little bit," Pelfrey said.

Nationals starter John Patterson went 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs and two hits in the 46-degree temperature

"It was cold but it is the same for both of us," Patterson saud. "There are a lot of tough outs in that lineup so you have to pick your spots."

Jose Reyes scored each of the first two New York runs. He singled in the first and later scored on a groundout by Carlos Beltran. In the sixth, he walked, stole second and scored on a single by Carlos Delgado off Micah Bowie that tied it at 2-2.

"We got the clutch hitting when we needed it," Delgado said. "It wasn't the best game ever, but we'll take it."

Pelfrey walked a pair of batters in the second when Nationals loaded the bases with no outs. Brian Schneider grounded into a double play to bring home the first run and Chris Snelling delivered an RBI single

It marked the first time the Nationals have scored in any of the first three innings this season. They were the first team in major league history not to score a run in the first three innings of the first 10 games of a season.

The Nationals loaded the bases in the fifth and sixth innings and failed to score.

Ronnie Belliard grounded into an inning-ending double play in the fifth and Snelling grounded out to end the sixth.