Piazza's Presence Propels Mets

May 24, 1998 / 8:32 PM EDT / CBS/AP

It didn't take long for Mike Piazza to transform Shea
Stadium into a jumpin' joint.

With the All-Star catcher the main attraction, the Mets drew a sellout crowd at home for the first time in five years, beating the Milwaukee Brewers 8-3 Sunday on Brian McRae's go-ahead, three-run double and Carlos Baerga's two-run homer.

"`You feel the excitement," said Bobby Jones (4-3), who won his third straight start.

Piazza, in his second game since the Mets acquired him from Florida on Friday, was 1-for-5. But his presence was larger - he drew huge cheers and some standing ovations whenever his name was announced.

"Feeling the adrenaline is not a problem," Piazza said. "Actually, I have to calm myself down."

The crowd of 47,291 - about 8,500 bought tickets from Friday on - was the first full house at Shea since the 1993 season opener against Colorado drew 53,134. Fans unable to get in packed the subway platform behind the right-field fence and watched from there.

"I wasn't surprised at the walkup. I was elated at the adulation," Mets co-owner Fred Wilpon said. "The respect of this great player - as he said himself, he was sort of like a rock star. New York likes a larger-than-life guy."

The Mets, who swept the three-game series, haven't filled their ballpark regularly for a decade, since the Dwight Gooden-Darryl Strawberry-Gary Carter-Keith Hernandez teams won the 1986 World Series and the 1988 NL East title. Piazza was acquired as much for his marquee value as his bat.

His arrival coincides with a hot streak. The Mets have won four straight and six of seven overall, and 10 of their last 11 at home.

"I think the buzz and excitement is just for us winning," McRae said. "If we had lost six out of seven and got Mike, I don't think there would be as much buzz and excitement."

Baerga, who connected in the seventh off Mike Myers, has been a big part of the turnaround. He is on a 34-for-97 (.351) streak, raising his average from .151 to .280. And perhaps more importantly, the switch-hitter has two right-handed homers in four days - one more than he hit last year.

In 1997, Baerga hit .188 in April but wound up at .281.

"I've been more aggressive at the plate and can see the ball really good," he said. "It's the work that you do. I've been reviewing video. My teammates have been helping me a lot."

New York trailed 3-1 in the fourth when it got a couple of lucky bounces. Baerga's liner over first base deflected off Dave Nilsson's glove into foul territory for a double, and Matt Franco's shot up the middle bounced off the mound high into the air for a single.

Rich Becker followed with an RBI double, Rey Ordonez loaded the bases with a walk, Jones flied out and McRae hit a one-hopper off the fence in center for a 53 lead. Bernard Gilkey doubled him home but was thrown out at third. Otherwise, he would have scored on Piazza' single.

Cal Eldred (0-4), winless in 13 starts since beating the White Sox last Sept. 15, was pounded for seven runs and a career-high 13 hits in 6 1-3 innings. Milwaukee (23-25) has lost five straight and seven of eight, falling two games under .500 for the first time this season.

"Horrendous - the mess continues," Brewers manager Phil Garner said. "We've tried everything we can think of to get Eldred going."

Milwaukee, which raised its payroll to $32 million this year, is 6-16 following a 17-9 start.

"We put a decent club together," Garner said. "We're paying good money - they have to produce."

Notes: The Mets play 18 of their next 21 on the road. ... Jones allowed three runs and seven hits in seven innings with six strikeouts and no walks. ... Nilsson, activated May 12 following spring training knee surgery, hit his first homer of the year in the second. ... Attendance was so large that the Mets ran out of children's jerseys they were giving away. Kids 14 and under were given rain checks and can exchange them for jersey when more arrive. ... Jones, 0-for-13 at the plate coming in, was 2-for-3. ... Several thousand free tickets, which don't count in the total, had been distributed before the trade. ... Eldred's previous high for hits allowed was 10, which he gave up three times. ... Gilkey had three hits.