Church Makes It Three Straight

Church Chooses Good Time for Warmup

RYAN CHURCH rapped a base hit in his third straight spring training game Monday.

It was one of only three hits the Mets garnered against Baltimore but they won 1-0.

Church’s rap was significant for several reasons.

One was that it was consecutive. He had been batting .161 entering Saturday’s game and now in three games his average has risen to .195. The work on his swing that he’s done with coach Howard Johnson may be already paying off.

Second it came against a lefthander. Remember all those rips that “Church doesn’t hit lefties.” Two of his three in this budding string came off lefthanders.

Third, it led to another stolen base. Just as GM Omar Minaya said when the Mets traded for Church, he is a threat on the base paths. His first two hits in this little string were doubles. This one might as well have been after he swiped second base. Officially the SB was his first but he also had one in the spring training opener against a college team (see the photo).

And No. 4 it comes with just five games remaining in spring training. In other words this little boomlet could not come at a better time. He seems to be hitting his stride at the perfect time.