Going ... Going ... Caught!

By Nicholas Stix


Minutes ago, in the top of the fourth inning at Shea Stadium, Astros’ outfielder Chris Burke got all of a pitch from the Mets’ young righthander, John Maine. At the crack of the bat, I said, “It’s gone.” And it was. But someone forgot to tell that to Mets’ left fielder Cliff Floyd.

The 6’4” Floyd drifted back to the wall, his eyes glued to the sure home run flying toward the fence. Just as the ball was about to clear the fence, he leaped, caught it just over the wall, and brought it back. Thus did a "home run" become just another out on the scorecard: "F7."

After five, the Mets lead 7-0, on the strength of a grand slam homer by second baseman Jose Valentin, and a two-run home run hit seconds ago by first baseman Carlos Delgado, both off Astros righthander Taylor Buchholz.