“To get through 14 innings and only give up one run, that’s a credit to the whole pitching staff. I’m just glad I could help. … It took so long for this to happen, but now it seems like it was for a reason. It’s an unbelievable feeling to have gone through so much to get to this point and then have a game like this.”
With chants of “USA, USA” raining down on the field at Citizens Bank Park, Mets catcher Ronny Paulino smacked an RBI double to the wall in the fourteenth inning to put the Mets up 2-1.
For Paulino It was his fifth hit of the night and he helped the Mets avoid a sweep at the hands of their division rival Philadelphia Phillies.
This was Paulino’s first start as a Met and his five hits set a career high and were also the most ever by a player making his first Mets start according to ESPN.
Paulino, who pinch-hit Friday, passed Xavier Nady(2006), Ty Wigginton (2002), Bill Almon (1980) and Richie Hebner (1979) — who had four apiece in their first Mets starts, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
It took a while for Paulino to finally get here, but he certainly made it worth the wait.
A great game and a great win for the Mets, but the best part was the stirring and exhilarating backdrop of the news that US forces had attacked and killed Osama Bin Laden – a huge win for our country.
It was a historic night to remember on many levels.
