By BART HUBBUCH
Posted: 5:00 am
June 28, 2008
Labeled "somewhat of an enigma" yesterday by his own manager, Carlos Delgado promptly lived up to that reputation in Game 1.
And how.
The Mets' oft-criticized first baseman, mired in a .130 slump the previous six games, erupted out of nowhere with the game of his life in the Mets' 15-6 rout of the Yankees in the Subway Series opener.
Delgado blasted two home runs - including the 12th grand slam of his 16-year career - and added a two-run double on the way to a franchise-record nine RBIs that headlined the Amazin's laugher.
All of Delgado's run-scoring hits came in his final three at-bats as he feasted on the Yankees' dreadful bullpen and smashed Dave Kingman's 32-year-old club mark of eight RBIs along the way.
"What can I tell you? I came in here pretty pumped up about this series and had a good game," said Delgado, who would follow it with an 0-for-2 showing and two walks in Game 2.
"I got lucky. Every time I came up, it seemed like we had a lot of men on base. I got some good pitches and was able to drive them."
Able to focus on his hitting as the DH in Yankee Stadium, Delgado went hitless in his first two at-bats against starter Dan Giese but teed off on relievers Edwar Ramirez, Ross Ohlendorf and LaTroy Hawkins.
The nine RBIs not only were a team record, but Delgado also matched his RBI total for the previous 20 games combined. Delgado, who turned 36 on Wednesday, had just 35 RBIs in the Mets' first 77 games before yesterday.
The career day pleased the Mets but also left them wondering where this had been all season.
"I hope he figured it out," Manuel said. "It was a good day for him. I was really happy for him. He had been pressing a bit."
That would be an understatement. Delgado went into Game 1 hitting just .229 amid calls for Manuel - and Willie Randolph before him - to bench the aging slugger or at least make him a part-time player.
Delgado, who raised his season homer total to 13 with the Game 1 display, attributed the woes this spring to bad luck.
"It seems like I haven't caught a break all year, but I don't complain," he said. "I figured things were going to happen when you make them happen. You kind of control your own fate. It's nice to go out there and get a good game."
Manuel thought it was a lot more than that.
"He just put us on his back today," Manuel said. "It was a tremendous effort. We need to get him that consistently."
