Church Missing; White Bats Third

Mets Lose Opener Without Church

In the most important series of the season the New York Mets fell 3-2 to the Philadelphia Phillies Friday.

And surprisingly, their top hitter for average, RYAN CHURCH, was not in the starting lineup. This despite Church hitting successfully in five straight games after coming off the Disabled List. Over that period he was rapping the ball at a .381 pace to lift his season's average to .308.

Church did make a pinch-hitting appearance in the ninth inning, popping out. Church's non-appearance resembled the two week stretch after his May 20 concussion in Atlanta when concussion-related symptoms kept cropping up. The Mets gave no explanation for Church's absence.

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WHITE IN THREE HOLE

In Oneonta, New York CHRIS WHITE was shifted from the two hole in the batting order to the all-important three spot Friday night. In response he want 1-for-4, drove in a run and lifted his season's average to .231. Unfortunately his Oneonta Tigers fell 5-2 to the Auburn Doubledays.