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Second baseman Edgardo Alfonzo committed two errors against his former team that contributed to the Giants' 6-2 loss to the New York Mets on Tuesday at Shea Stadium, ending San Francisco's three-game winning streak.
His first gaffe, a wild off-balance throw past first base, led to the Mets'
first run in the third inning. His second miscue, a fielding error, led to four
more unearned runs in the sixth.
Pitcher Brett Tomko's night had been smooth until then. So smooth, that Tomko said, "This was the best I've felt all year, including spring training."
But Alfonzo's error, on Karim Garcia's groundball, led to a four-run sixth inning.
Five consecutive two-out hits chased Tomko and put the Mets ahead 5-2. Tomko
left with his best, if somewhat misleading, numbers of the season: 5 2/3 innings
and zero earned runs. His ERA dropped from 7.57 to 6.27.
Catcher Yorvit Torrealba confirmed that this was the best Tomko has pitched.
"Everything I was putting down, he was throwing it," Torrealba said.
Tomko (1-2), however, made two mistakes that fueled the rally. He left a high
fastball that Mike Cameron smashed on the first pitch over the right-field fence
for two runs, and a change-up that Kaz Matsui drove to right-center to drive
in another.
Alfonzo played for the Mets in 1995-2002, much of the time at second base. He
has played mostly third base for the Giants but was shifted back to second five
games ago after Ray Durham suffered a knee injury.
"I guess I didn't catch the ball; that's it," Alfonzo said.
Besides his two errors, he missed a popup behind first because of miscommunication
with first baseman J.T. Snow.
"We might have been a little slow because of jet lag or whatever,"
Alou said. "We'll be back tomorrow."
It may have more than jet lag. It seemed half the team had come down with some
sort of sinus problem, with Bonds being the first struck and perhaps suffering
the worst.
Bonds never was considered as a pinch hitter, including during the sixth inning
when Tomko batted with the bases loaded and two out. He flied out to right.
The Giants had no left-handed pinch hitters available after Bonds was sent home
during the game because of his sinus infection.
"We had a few opportunities to come up with hits, and any time you get
opportunities and let them go, it's painful," Alfonzo said.
• Catcher A.J. Pierzynski was held out for the second consecutive game
because of soreness in his right shoulder. An MRI exam showed a small tear in
the rotator cuff. Pierzynski said he could have played but was held out to allow
it to heal.
• Durham took batting practice and took part in regular pregame drills
for the first time since suffering a strain to the patellar tendon in his left
knee Tuesday.
Durham said he is on schedule to return well before the four to six weeks he
had been expected to miss. He anticipates being ready when he is eligible to
come off the disabled list May 13.
• Brian Dallimore went 0 for 4 with a walk in his first game at the leadoff
spot. Dallimore now wears No. 14, replacing the No. 60 he wore his first four
games.
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