Lowering the Boom-er
Hes fat, hes old and, for the last three weeks, hes been unemployed. But David Boomer Wells still found a way to beat the New York Mets last night, scattering two runs and seven hits over five innings to earn the win in the [Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 victory].
The 44-year-old left hander, with a penchant for drinking too much and too often speaking his mind, pitched his first game [since being released] on August 9 by San Diego. Yet despite the layoff, Wells looked like his old self, keeping the Mets lineup off-balance with a steady dose of curveballs, control and altering speeds. Typical David Wells, said New York manager Willie Randolph.
It was a tough night for Wells counterpart, however, Mets ace John Maine (pictured), who is 18 years younger than the burly southpaw. Maine failed to reach the seventh inning for the sixth consecutive time, allowing six runs, three earned and nine hits in five and two-thirds innings. Maine and the Mets got some help from slugger David Wright, who went 2-for-3 with a two-run double and who has now reached safely in 18 of his last 23 plate appearances, but very little from the other position players. The loss [dropped New Yorks division lead to six games], but no need for panic: With just 32 games remaining, Wells has a better chance of winning a swimsuit contest than the Mets do of blowing their lead.