The explosion was impossible to miss. It played out at home plate, a collision of anger and testosterone, verbs and runs scattered everywhere.
First baseman Doug Mientkiewicz had reason to be ticked. He was one of only two New York Mets who failed to reach base in the fifth inning. Called out on strikes, Mientkiewicz voiced his opinion as he trotted out to his position.
Plate umpire Angel Hernandez quickly ejected Mientkiewicz.
The Mets, however, avoided getting tossed out of town Wednesday, avoiding a crippling sweep with a 9-3 flogging of the Rockies at Coors Field.
“Am I mad he threw me out? No,” Mientkiewicz said. “Did I deserve to be thrown out? Yeah. It was just months of pent-up frustration coming out.”
Mientkiewicz’s screaming and stomping perfectly symbolized the Mets’ offense. Held to six runs in the previous two losses, New York erupted for six runs in a forgettable fifth inning for Rockies starter Jamey Wright.
Wright suffered what pitching coach Bob Apodaca described as a “subtle timing disorder.” In other words, he was rushing, leaving him unable to repeat or command pitches. By the ninth inning, Wright and Apodaca were huddled in front of a TV screen adjacent to the clubhouse, the video an indictment of a flawed delivery.
“It’s comforting to know that I was doing something wrong,” said Wright, tagged for nine runs, tying his career high. “It’s just disappointing. I really wanted this one.”
On a beautiful summer night, an announced crowd of 26,183 wandered into the ballpark, many seeking a Mets victory. The Mets, bolstered by high-profile additions Pedro Martinez and Carlos Beltran, carry some cache, if not hope for a playoff berth.
They positioned themselves for a run at the National League East leaders by drumming the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers last week at home.
In Denver, the challenge was harder. They were facing the National League West’s finest since June 1. At 21-29, the Rockies are the class of the division. Yet, the Mets lost the first two games by losing their identity.
“I told them when we came here that the ball doesn’t travel the same because of the humidor,” said Mets bench coach Sandy Alomar Sr., a former Rockies assistant. “The baseball here is more like back East. You have to play small ball.”
Winning starting pitcher Victor Zambrano did just that, laying down a beautiful bunt single to begin the influential fifth inning. Ten batters and six hits later, the Mets were breathing comfortably in the thin air, staked to a 9-1 lead.
Zambrano, relying on a good changeup and breaking ball, hardly needed the cushion, particularly against a lineup naked without Todd Helton (calf), for whom the disabled list remains a possibility.
“He threw just enough fastballs that you had to gear up for it,” second baseman Aaron Miles said. “And he kept everything down in the zone.”
That’s how Wright revived his season last month. It’s back under the hood to fix his mechanics.
“It was obvious when I saw it on the tape,” Wright said. “I know I can correct it.”
ROCKIES RECAP
Chacon remains trade bait as deadline nears
Even with Jason Jennings out for the season, the Rockies are still considered a player as Sunday’s trading deadline approaches. Sending Zach Day to Triple-A and keeping him on schedule to take Shawn Chacon’s spot if necessary provides evidence that deals still are percolating.
Chacon is one of few starting pitchers available. With Aaron Cook starting Saturday, the Rockies still have depth with Jose Acevedo, Day and potentially Jason Young.
The Yankees have backed off Eric Byrnes, but the Rockies have received calls from Houston and St. Louis, thus far dissuaded by the asking price. Byrnes started in right field Tuesday and singled in a run in his first at-bat.
Catching on
On June 5, catcher Todd Greene tumbled home and out of sight. His strained right hamstring isn’t taking longer than usual to heal – because it’s not a hamstring. He severely hurt his tendon, similar to Ken Griffey Jr.’s injury last season.
Greene plans to begin baseball activities today.
Long gone
Starter Jamey Wright, who ranked sixth in groundball-flyball ratio, allowed three home runs in the first four innings.
Staff writer Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-820-5447 or trenck@denverpost.com.
