Mets end 5-game skid, beat Braves 3-2
March 11, 2010
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP)—Derek Lowe(notes) could only stare at his foot in disbelief.Longtime Braves manager Bobby Cox said he had never seen anything like it.
Lowe was hampered Wednesday by a blister on his right foot, forcing him outof Atlanta’s 7-6 victory over the New York Mets after just one inning.
Lowe said the recurring blister on his push-off foot popped with DanielMurphy(notes) at the plate, after he had faced two batters. He tried to hang in therebut he told Cox he couldn’t go another inning after yielding three runs and fivehits in the first.
“It looked like the blister exploded,” Cox said. “I’ve seen some thingsbut nothing like that.”
Cox said Lowe may miss a start, but the right-hander is hoping to remain onschedule as he prepares to pitch on opening day, while trying to make sure theblisters aren’t a regular problem.
“It just popped and you can look at it and see,” Lowe said, pointing tohis foot. “That was a wasted day. I only got in three pitches before I couldn’tpush off anymore.”
Lowe and Cox said they knew something was wrong when they looked up at thescoreboard and saw Lowe was barely breaking 80 mph on the radar gun.
“He’s a tough guy,” Cox said. “He’s the ace of this staff so he has to betough. I don’t want him to miss any starts, but he’ll be ready, let’s hope, byopening day.”
Jonathon Niese(notes), trying to win the No. 5 spot in New York’s rotation, allowedthree runs and three hits in two innings. The left-hander walked two and struckout none.
“I don’t think we are ready to eliminate him or anyone else,” managerJerry Manuel said of the competition for the starting job. “It will all comedown to who can come up with wins for us.”
Jesus Sucre’s RBI single in the 10th inning gave Atlanta the win. ChipperJones(notes) also had a two-run double in the fourth for the Braves.
Chris Carter homered and drove in four runs for the Mets.
NOTES: Braves RHP Jair Jurrjens(notes) (shoulder) is scheduled to start Thursdayagainst the New York Yankees. … Atlanta CF Nate McLouth(notes) went 0 for 3 to drophis spring batting average to .063.
