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GAME LOG
NEW YORK (AP) – The New York Mets never stopped celebrating
after raising their National League championship banner.
|  | | Mets shortstop Rey Ordonez throws across his body to first, but Andruw Jones beat his throw for an infield single. |
Mike Piazza homered twice and drove in five runs, and Kevin
Appier won his Shea Stadium debut Monday as the Mets took their
home opener 9-4 against their biggest nemesis, the Atlanta Braves.
"Everything went according to plan," New York reliever John
Franco said.
In their first home game since losing the World Series to the
New York Yankees, the Mets used a five-run fifth inning against
Kevin Millwood (0-1) to win for the third time in four games
against Atlanta this season.
Piazza's three-run homer capped the big inning, and he added a
two-run shot off Joe Slusarski in the seventh for his fourth homer
of the year and the 25th multihomer game of his career.
"Hopefully this is something we can build on," Piazza said.
"This gives us confidence. I hope it continues because we still
have a lot of games left against them."
Appier (1-0), signed to help replace the departed Mike Hampton,
did what the NLCS MVP couldn't last year – beat the Braves. Appier
allowed three runs and six hits in seven innings on a beautiful,
69-degree day.
"The crowd was amazing," Appier said. "This was like my
in-person introduction to New York and to get a win was very
sweet."
Japanese import Tsuoyshi Shinjo led off the sixth inning with
his first career homer, prompting one of three curtain calls for
the sellout crowd of 53,640.
Signs of last year's pennant were evident around Shea Stadium.
Operators answered the phones by saying "NL champs" and John
Rocker's favorite train – the No. 7 – had a Mets logo and "Subway
Series" emblazoned on the cars.
The Mets, who have finished second to Atlanta in the NL East the
past three seasons, got to raise their NL championship banner
against the team that knocked them out of the 1999 playoffs.
"That was obviously special for every one in the
organization," Piazza said. "It's good to be mentioned with the
great Mets teams of the past."
Many of the Mets stood on the top step of the dugout as the NL
championship banner was being hoisted before the game. The Braves,
who have won five NL titles in the past 10 years, didn't watch
except for former Met Rico Brogna.
"They deserved it," Atlanta's Greg Maddux said. "You kind of
feel good for them. You don't have to hate each other to have a
rivalry. It's more of a mutual-respect thing."
It wasn't long until they got to see the Mets play like NL
champions.
With the score tied at 1, Rey Ordonez led off the fifth inning
with a double. One out later, Darryl Hamilton, Edgardo Alfonzo and
Robin Ventura hit consecutive singles to put the Mets up 3-1.
Piazza then fouled off four two-strike pitches and took a close
1-2 pitch before hitting a line drive over the center-field fence.
The shot led to the first of his two curtain calls.
"I thought I had him struck out earlier in the at-bat. I just
didn't get the call," Millwood said "Everything was up that
inning."
Shinjo, the second Japanese position player in the majors, had a
more animated celebration on his homer. He tossed his bat to the
side and then bowed to the fans after they called him out of the
dugout.
"He's got a lot of flair," Piazza said.
His new teammates also gave him a Japanese-style greeting,
standing in a line with their hands outstretched and bowing to
Shinjo.
"When I was running around the bases I was waiting for them to
come out," Shinjo said through an interpreter. "All of a sudden,
they lined up to bow."
Brogna, B.J. Surhoff and Javy Lopez homered for the Braves, who
have scored only five runs in the last three games.
Millwood, who had a 12.46 ERA in six spring appearances, allowed
six runs and eight hits in five innings.
Game notes
Former Mets star outfielder Tommie Agee, who died earlier
this year, and former prospect Brian Cole, who died in a car
accident on his way home from spring training last month, were
honored before the game. Agee's widow, Maxcine, threw out the first
pitch. ... Braves manager Bobby Cox was ejected in the fifth inning
by first-base umpire Jim Reynolds after arguing that Appier offered
at a bunt attempt. ... Mets OF Benny Agbayani was placed on the DL
with a chipped bone in his left wrist and will miss 2-to-4 weeks.
Jorge Toca was called up from Triple-A Norfolk. ... The Mets are
5-21 in Atlanta since September 1997, but 14-12 at Shea. ...
Shinjo's name was skipped during the pregame lineup announcement
before manager Bobby Valentine alerted announcer Gary Thorne of the
mistake.
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RECAPS
Toronto 8
Tampa Bay 1
Chi. White Sox 9
Cleveland 2
NY Yankees 13
Kansas City 4
Minnesota 11
Detroit 5
NY Mets 9
Atlanta 4
Cincinnati 8
Pittsburgh 2
St. Louis 3
Colorado 2
Montreal 7
Chicago Cubs 5
Philadelphia 5
Florida 4
AUDIO/VIDEO
 The Baseball Tonight crew take a look at the Mets' victory over division rival Atlanta.
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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