Beltran hits 'em, doesn't watch 'em
Carlos Beltran #15 of the New York Mets follows through on his fifth inning two run home run against the Los Angeles Angels at Citi Field. (June 18, 2011) Credit: Jim McIsaac
Carlos Beltran knew it was gone. But it wasn't until he got back to the dugout that he learned just how far it went.
After driving a 2-and-1 pitch from Dan Haren to the base of Shea Bridge in right-centerfield in the fifth inning Saturday night, he simply ran around the bases. He said he didn't stop to notice how far it went. "I don't like to pimp homers," he said before pausing. "Maybe a little bit. But I didn't take a look at where it landed. The guys told me about it afterwards."
It was the 10th homer of the season for Beltran, who is 13-for-39 with eight RBIs in his last 10 games. He said he felt good at the plate Saturday night. "I felt like I was using my legs," he said, a good sign considering the injury troubles he's had in that area.
"Unbelievable," Jose Reyes said of Beltran's hitting of late. "He's healthy. There is no doubt in anybody's mind when that guy is healthy, he's one of the best players in the league."
Although Beltran didn't spot where this homer -- one of the longest ever hit at Citi Field -- landed, he said there is a situation in which he might take a peek. "If it's a walk-off, yeah, I would look at it all the way," he said. "But a situation like that, you know you hit it good, the pitcher knows you hit it good. I don't want to feel like I'm showing up the pitcher or maybe waking him up."
Bay can't explain
In the seven games since he was benched June 9 and 10, Jason Bay is hitting .333. He's had multiple hits in three of his last four games, going 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI Saturday night.
"Was it the days [off]? Was it coincidence? I don't know," he said. "It wasn't like I had an epiphany on the second day and everything kind of came together. I think in hindsight, it kind of just lets you breathe a little bit and kind of get back out there. Sometimes that's good. But I can't definitively say that it was one thing on one day."
Saying he sees signs of "fatigue" and that he looks "low on fuel," Collins rested second baseman Ruben Tejada last nightSaturday night. The move required a few shifts in the lineup; Justin Turner was moved to second, Daniel Murphy played third and Lucas Duda was at first.
"I think I'm trying too much right now," said Tejada, who has one hit in his last 21 at-bats but said he does not feel especially tired. "I need to concentrate now on hitting to the middle and rightfield."
