Glavine gets it done for Mets
NEW YORK — The New York Mets were supposed to have pitching problems in the postseason. Tom Glavine is taking care of that.
Sharp and deceptive as ever, Glavine put the depleted Mets on his 40-year-old back again Thursday night to give New York the lead in the NL championship series.
Carlos Beltran rocked Shea Stadium with a homer that crashed off the scoreboard, backing another gem by Glavine as the Mets beat the St. Louis Cardinals 2-0 in Game 1.
"He sets the tone. He has that calm demeanor. It gives you that sense of security," Mets closer Billy Wagner said.
Making his 34th postseason start, Glavine shut down Albert Pujols and allowed only four harmless singles, running his scoreless streak to 13 innings in these playoffs.
Beltran, who wore out St. Louis in the NLCS with Houston two years ago, hit a two-run shot off an otherwise impressive Jeff Weaver in the sixth. That was all the offense New York needed to win its eighth straight game, dating to the regular season.
"It pains me," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "No way to suggest that he's a losing pitcher. ... Jeff was outstanding. So was Glavine. We hit too many balls in the air."
After rain postponed the opener Wednesday night, the Cardinals bumped up ace Chris Carpenter, who will pitch on regular rest tonight in Game 2. Rookie right-hander John Maine is on the mound for the Mets.
Missing injured starters Pedro Martinez and Orlando Hernandez, the Mets are counting heavily on Glavine as they chase their first World Series title in 20 years.
The cagey left-hander has delivered in a big way.
He threw six scoreless innings in Game 2 of the first round, helping the Mets to a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers. And the two-time Cy Young Award winner, who waited four seasons to reach the playoffs with New York after doing so year after year in Atlanta, was just as good against St. Louis.
"I understand the importance of when I pitch now. But at the same time, I'm trying my best to mentally play games with myself and dismiss that," Glavine said. "I don't want to go out there with any added pressure."
Boosted by two inning-ending double plays and a sprawling catch from super sub Endy Chavez, Glavine was in control throughout. He struck out Pujols in the first, walked him in the fourth and retired him on a liner to shortstop in the sixth.
Still, the slugger wasn't impressed.
"He wasn't good. He wasn't good at all," Pujols said. "I think we hit the ball hard. We didn't get some breaks."
Guillermo Mota worked a hitless eighth to avoid facing Pujols himself, instead passing the reigning NL MVP along to Wagner in the ninth. But he got Pujols to line out to first, and Juan Encarnacion followed with a hard groundout.
Wagner then walked Scott Rolen, who is 1-for-14 this postseason, and retired pinch-hitter Scott Spiezio on a popup for his third save of the playoffs.
Glavine matched Andy Pettitte for the most postseason starts in major league history. Glavine also improved to 14-15 in the postseason, tying Pettitte for the second-most wins behind former Braves teammate John Smoltz (15).
"Tommy was the key," Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "He's quiet, goes about his business and is one of the leaders on our staff."
