![]() | |
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Video Plus Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities ![]()
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |
FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- Britt Reames and Mark Smith helped the Montreal Expos end a disappointing season on a positive note. Reames pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings and Smith hit a three-run homer to give the Expos a 5-0 victory over the New York Mets. The Expos finished the season in last place with a 68-94 season, the fourth straight year the floundering franchise, which is rumored to be relocating almost yearly, has won less than 70 games. "We took two out of three from the Mets to end the season to end on a high note. We have a solid group of professionals and we'll see what happens in the offseason," manager Jeff Torborg said. "No one from the owner down has mentioned anything about the status of the franchise." It was also a season of disappointment for the Mets (83-79), who closed the year with six losses in nine games. The defending National League champions won 25 of 30 games before the slide and were eliminated from postseason contention Tuesday. New York won 94 games a year ago. "I'm proud of all of the guys and how they handled themselves because we have a lot to do and a lot to look forward to," Mets manager Bobby Valentine said. During the seventh inning stretch, Mets players came out on the field to sing "God Bless America." "Hey, the guys kept telling me they can sing so I put them out there and they did pretty good," Valentine said. "I hope it lifted the spirits of all New Yorkers one more time. It was also a sign to show that all of our guys are together on and off the field." Reames (4-8) allowed just two hits, walked two and struck out seven. Scott Stewart recorded four outs and Scott Strickland had two strikeouts over the final two innings to complete the three-hitter. Glendon Rusch (8-12) took the loss, allowing four runs and five hits in seven innings while striking out eight. Rusch was 0-6 over his last seven home starts. Mike Mordecai and Orlando Cabrera singled with one out in the fourth before Smith hit his sixth homer of the season to left-center field. Terry Jones singled in the sixth, stole second and went to third when the throw from catcher Vance Wilson went into center field. Jones then scored on a groundout by Mike Mordecai. Mordecai drove in another run with a single in the eighth.
|