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The Giants crossed three time zones Monday, apparently not packing the good karma they had built up after winning the final three games against the Florida Marlins.
"We did a good job the last three games," Barry Bonds said before
the game. "We kicked Florida's (butt). That was good."
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The Giants bore no resemblance to that team Tuesday night, kicking the ball around Shea Stadium and losing 6-2 to the New York Mets to prolong their road ills.
Second baseman Edgardo Alfonzo made two errors, and was involved in a mix-up
on another play with first baseman J.T. Snow, resulting in five unearned runs
next to Brett Tomko's name.
Alfonzo, normally reliable despite playing out of position in place of injured
Ray Durham, made a throwing error that led to the Mets' first run in the third
inning, and flubbed a ball and then threw off line to Snow on a Karim Garcia
grounder that would have been the second out of the sixth inning. The Mets went
on to score four runs.
"That ground ball took a bad hop at the end," Alfonzo said. "Those
things happen. It's not going to be the first time and not going to be the last
time."
Jason Phillips tied the game with a single to score Garcia, and Mike Cameron
hit Tomko's first pitch over the right-field fence for a 4-2 lead. Later, neither
Alfonzo nor Snow could get to a Steve Trachsel blooper to shallow right, though
it appeared catchable by both players. "A miscommunication," Alfonzo
said.
Tomko said it was the best he's felt all season, including spring training.
He preferred to pin the loss on himself, rather than Alfonzo's miserable day.
"It happens. People make errors, make mistakes," Tomko said. "I
made just as big a mistake getting the ball up to Cameron. I should have known
better. If you get the ball up against him, he can do damage. When I needed
to make a pitch, I got it up and he took advantage of it."
Tomko was struck on the left toe by a Garcia liner in the third, but he said
it did not hinder him the rest of the evening.
Manager Felipe Alou said the team's lackluster performance might have been due
to jet lag, plus an illness sweeping the clubhouse. Bonds missed his second
straight game because of a sinus infection, and four other players, including
Tomko, were under the weather.
"I can't eat. I'm losing weight. I can't sleep, either," said Bonds,
who was sent back to the hotel during the game under orders from trainer Stan
Conte.
The Giants were also without catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who missed his second
game with a strained right shoulder.
NOTES: Durham ran on the field for the first time since he suffered a strained
left patellar tendon last week. He said he could be activated when he's eligible
to come off the disabled list May 13. "I'm planning on it. I could have
setbacks. I'm ahead of schedule." At the time of the injury, the Giants
said Durham would be out four to six weeks. ... If there are no setbacks, pitcher
Dustin Hermanson will be activated and start Friday night in Cincinnati. Hermanson
is on the DL with a lower back strain.
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