Mets open $800 million Citi Field with a dud
NEW YORK - Their new home was gorgeous. The Mets looked lost in it.
Jody Gerut christened Citi Field with a leadoff homer - the only time that's happened in major-league history - and the San Diego Padres spoiled New York's first regular-season game in its glittering ballpark with a 6-5 victory Monday night.
Pedro Feliciano balked in the go-ahead run and the Mets made several costly mistakes, opening Citi Field the same way they closed Shea Stadium: with a dud.
Gerut's shot off Mike Pelfrey marked the first time that the first batter homered in a regular-season opener at a big-league ballpark, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
"Very cool," Gerut said. "Maybe at the end of the season when I look back on this, I'll have a greater sense of what happened here. But at the time, all I'm thinking is that it put us ahead."
David Wright rallied New York from an early 4-run hole with a tying 3-run homer, but it wasn't enough. Duaner Sanchez and Heath Bell, both former Mets relievers, closed out the fifth straight win for surprising San Diego, expected to be one of baseball's worst teams this year.
Adrian Gonzalez also connected for the Padres (6-2).
The Mets are looking for more success at $800 million Citi Field than they had at big Shea, where they spent 45 seasons that produced two World Series championships - and consecutive September collapses the past two years.
The Mets lost to Florida in the Shea finale last season, eliminating them from playoff contention. They haven't been any better in their stadium openers, either - New York dropped its first game at the old Polo Grounds (1962) and at Shea Stadium (1964), both by 4-3 scores to Pittsburgh.
Wide-eyed fans filed in Monday through the stately Jackie Robinson Rotunda, many snapping photos and searching for souvenirs. Thousands strolled through the spacious concourses during the game, trying out new places to eat, drink and watch the action.
Pregame ceremonies included Hall of Famer Tom Seaver and former New York catcher Mike Piazza walking in together from the bullpen, both wearing Mets jerseys. Seaver threw out the first pitch to Piazza, a strike, and pumped his fist.
Both players autographed the ball, which is headed to the Hall of Fame.
With its intricate brickwork and charming archways, Citi Field was designed to invoke the warmth of Ebbets Field, beloved home of the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1913-57.
The Mets tested out the cozy ballpark with two exhibition games April 3-4 against Boston. But this was the real thing, and it certainly didn't go as planned.
Gerut pulled Pelfrey's third pitch down the right-field line, stunning a peppy, sold-out crowd of 41,007 right at the start.
The first hit at Shea Stadium also was a home run, by Pirates Hall of Famer Willie Stargell off "Fat Jack" Fisher on April 17, 1964.
"That's probably the only place in the yard where I can get it out. This park plays pretty big," Gerut said.
Indeed, Wright and Carlos Beltran hammered long drives to center that Gerut caught near the fence, balls that probably would have left Shea Stadium and most other big-league parks.