Houston 4, New York 8

Great job by Marlon Anderson in breaking up the double play in the 8th, even though Jose Reyes might’ve beat out the throw anyway. The Astros’ play by play schmoes were saying that Reyes doesn’t look like a .400 hittert. Sadly, they’re right. He doesn’t look much like a leadoff hitter either, with his inability to lay off pitches in the dirt and walking less than George Wallace. But Reyes’ speed was key today, as was Kaz Matsui’s drag bunt in the 6th (please note the Mets oft-criticized 2nd baseman slid into first base feet first. 3 stolen bases on the day. Willie Randolph having Matsui bunt with two outs and runners on first and 3rd in the 6th. Maybe these aren’t the same old Mets.

Of course, the Astros made a month’s worth of defensive misplays in one afternoon. And spare a thought for Andy Pettitte, who was knocked out of the game by a broken bat single and two successive bloopers. And I don’t mean the kind that Bob Saget used to introduce.

Former Mets reliever John Franco, as quoted by the New York Times’ Dave Caldwell in tomorrow’s paper.

Franco, who was with the Mets for 15 seasons, said he had heard it all before. Some Mets fans like him, he said. Some do not like him so much. He knows the turf.

“Oh, that doesn’t bother me,” Franco said of being taunted. “That’s part of it. Fifteen years here, that’s been a part of it.”

Franco was brought in to get out Floyd. It was his 1,090th major league game, and even though it was at Shea, Franco did not look at the game as any big deal. He said he had requested only six tickets for his family. His son had a test at school.

“All my friends got 20 years of free tickets,” he said before the game. “Everyone’s seen me play here before. And there’s no guarantees I’m going to get into the game.”

Please note that in his two appearances thus far in 2005, Franco has allowed 3 inherited runners to score. Incredibly, the Astros have managed not to sew a captain’s “C” on Johnny B. Badd’s shirt.