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Easley's three-run blast gives Mets win over D-Backs

May 4, 2007 - 6:41 AM PHOENIX (Ticker) -- A former Arizona Diamondback was the hero Thursday night for the New York Mets.

Damion Easley's three-run home run in the top of the ninth inning lifted the Mets to a 9-4 victory over the Diamondbacks.

Arizona closer Jose Valverde's breakdown wasted a solid effort from starter Micah Owings and extended their losing streak to the Mets to 11 games. The Mets have outscored the Diamondbacks, 93-24, during that span.

"We like it here, we are comfortable and it is a great hitting ballpark," Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "The benches are good, the field is fast, and there is a great background to hit off. We have some nice success here and it is nice to get the first one under our belt."

With Arizona holding a 4-3 lead entering the ninth, Valverde (0-2) struck out Endy Chavez but became unraveled when Shawn Green's grounder went under first baseman Tony Clark's glove for an error. Clark came into the game in the ninth as a defensive replacement.

"It came up on me a bit but not enough where I should have completely missed it," Clark said. "I realized once it got to the dirt that it was going to hop so I tried to knock it down but wasn't able to do it."

Valverde walked Paul Lo Duca to set the table for Easley's homer. The blown save was the second of the season for Valverde and was the first in his last nine save opportunities.

"We got to the ninth inning with a lead that is all you can ask for then you get your closer in the game," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said. "He has been as good as any closer in the league he just didn't finish one out. It was tough game to lose. They have a good line up and you have to get three outs. You get three outs you win the game if not you let guys on base and that can happen."

Easley spent last season with Arizona, appearing in 90 games and hitting nine homers before signing a minor-league deal with the Mets in the offseason. Jose Valentin's knee injury opened the door for Easley to get some playing time, and the veteran second baseman is taking full advantage.

"Amazed would mean I am doubting myself. I am not going to go up there and say I expect to hit home runs in all those situations but I like to think I can come through," Easley said. "I try to make sure I am real relaxed and not make the moment any bigger then it is. I still have to get a pitch to hit and not do too much with it.

"I was trying to get good pitch to hit and hit it in the gap somewhere. A home run was not on my mind. I wanted to at least tie the score up and get Dukie (Paul Lo Duca) to third."

David Wright padded the lead and added to Valverde's misery with another three-run homer to put the game out of reach. It was the second homer of the season for the All-Star.

Owings, who was the Diamondbacks' 2006 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, showed no ill-effects from a strained hamstring that had him on the disabled list for the past two weeks. He was activated for Thursday's start and stymied the New York hitters.

Owings did not allow a hit through the first three innings. The 24-year-old righthander struck out five while surrendering six hits and three runs in six frames to leave with a 4-3 lead.

"I made a couple of pitches I wish I could take back but I felt good," Owings said. "I felt that what ever pitch I was going to go with I was going to trust it and do my best to throw it."

Arizona got on the board in the second, when Eric Byrnes led off with a triple against Mets starter Tom Glavine and scored on Stephen Drew's single.

The Mets took a brief lead in the fourth inning when Owings had some issues with his command, walking Carlos Beltran, who scored on a double by Moises Alou. After Green walked, Alou came home with the go-ahead run on Lo Duca's single.

The Diamondbacks climbed back on top in the fifth on Chris Snyder's two-run blast.

After Beltran forged another tie with a solo blast in the sixth, Hudson responded in kind in the bottom of the frame to give Arizona what looked like a winning margin until Easley's at-bat.

Glavine came into the game with a 10-3 record and a 2.27 ERA against the Diamondbacks - his lowest ERA against any team. His mark here was even better - 8-1 with a 1.37 ERA. He surrendered four and five hits in six innings.

"One difference tonight then in the past here was I made one bad pitch," Glavine said. "The two run home run was a horrible pitch and the only pitch I want back. The home run to Snyder was probably poor pitch selection then a poor pitch on top of it. A double whammy."

Aaron Heilman (2-2) pitched a scoreless eighth and was credited with the win.

Glavine recorded his 2,503rd strikeout of his career passing Christy Mathewson for 28th on the all-time strikeout list.

"I don't consider myself a strikeout pitcher, but I have had my share over the years," Glavine said. "It is a nice number, nice company to be in and hopefully there will be a lot more. These things are hard to enjoy and put it in perspective when you are still playing.