Mets overcome 6-1 deficit to beat Nationals

In spring training, Jerry Manuel knew where to turn when he wanted a late-inning left-handed bat off the bench.

"We'd always say, 'Get the Animal ready,' " Manuel said, referring to Chris Carter.

Last night, in his Mets debut, the Animal was ready.

Carter, called up from Triple-A Buffalo on Monday, pulled a double down the right-field line to score Alex Cora with the go-ahead run.

The Mets scored six times in the eighth inning to rally for an 8-6 win, with the 27-year-old Carter right in the middle of it.

"That was how I'd dream it up," Carter said. "It's a great feeling. I definitely felt like part of the team right there."

The Mets had been getting very little from their pinch hitters so far this season - Frank Catalanotto, who was designated for assignment when Carter was recalled, was just 3-for-22 as a pinch hitter; Gary Matthews Jr. was 0-for-11 before a pinch-hit single in the fifth last night.

So Carter knew what his role would be. He spent the better part of the night pacing the dugout, bat in hand, waiting for a chance.

"He's a very focused individual," said Manuel, who gave Carter his nickname from seeing him on an exercise bike every morning at 7 a.m. in Port St. Lucie this spring. "We all feel he can add some spice to our life up here."

The Mets threatened plenty before the eighth, but were trailing 6-2. Starter Jon Niese gave up a three-run homer to Adam Dunn in the first and never found his rhythm, walking five and allowing all six Nationals runs (five earned) in 41/3 innings.

The Mets left the bases full in the fifth and snuffed out a pair of rallies, including a two-on, no-out start to the seventh, with double play groundouts; but in the eighth, Jason Bay singled and David Wright doubled to start things off. Both those struggling hitters went 3-for-4.

Ike Davis reached on a throwing error by Nats shortstop Ian Desmond to make it 6-3 and righthander Tyler Clippard (6-1), one of the top middle relievers in baseball, came on. He struck out Jeff Francoeur, but Rod Barajas doubled high off the leftfield wall to score two and make it 6-5.

Then came Cora, who walked as a pinch hitter in the seventh and stayed in at second. He dropped down a perfect bunt single to put runners at the corners.

"He knew what run he represented," Manuel said. "He's just looking to get on."

Angel Pagan singled to right to score Barajas with the tying run and bring Carter to the plate.

He stared at a changeup for strike one and got another off-speed pitch, taking it down the line in right to score Cora.

Miguel Batista walked Bay with the bases full to make it a two-run game and Francisco Rodriguez retired the side in order for his fifth save, with Raul Valdes (1-0) getting the win.

Carter got the shaving-cream pie in the face, courtesy of Francoeur.

"My first one in the big leagues," he said. "I think they used a whole bottle of shaving cream. It was worth it."

As is his nickname, not necessarily one a focused guy like Carter might embrace.

"The Animal? Sounds good to me," he said.