New York Mets Prove Why They Are MLB's Best on Opening Day

Glavine Gets 291st Career Win

The St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series last year, despite a rather lackluster regular season that resulted in them winning their division. They opened the season against the team many thought would advance through the National League playoffs last year to that World Series but didn't in the New York Mets. After watching the Cardinals celebrate that championship, the Mets got a small amount of revenge to open the 2007 baseball season with a six to one victory. In winning the game, the Mets improved their opening day record to a major league best 29-17 status.

The Mets were led by their 41 year old starting pitcher Tom Glavine who recorded his 291st career win. Glavine pitched six strong innings only giving up one run and allowed six hits along with a walk. Glavine also struck out two Cardinals hitters. He was given a lead that he would not relinquish on a long fly ball by Carlos Delgado in the third inning. The ball hit off the wall, falling just short of being a home run but resulted in a double that brought in Carlos Beltran and Paul Lo Duca. Lo Duca and Beltran combined to extend the lead to a comfortable margin the next inning off Cardinal's starting pitcher Chris Carpenter. Lo Duca singled in the fourth inning driving in Shawn Green and Jose Valentin. Beltran then singled driving in Jose Reyes for the 5-0 lead.

The Cardinals did attempt to mount a comeback twice during the game, but once were foiled by a play at the plate and limiting the Cardinals to just one run in the inning to close the gap to 5-1. In the eighth inning the Cardinals were threatening once again as the bases were loaded for Scott Rolen. Aaron Heilman pitched the Mets out of trouble in that inning though as he got Rolen to ground out into a rally-killing double play to end the inning. Lo Duca then finished off his strong evening with an RBI single in the top of the ninth inning to extend the lead to 6-1 which ended as the final score. Eckstein led the Cardinals offensively getting three hits in his four plate appearances and scoring their only run of the game.