For two innings last night, the Mets struggled to get anything started against Dodgers starter Hong-Chih Kuo. Then an unlikely sparkplug ignited them in the third.
Endy Chavez, the journeyman outfielder, put down a perfect drag bunt between the pitcher’s mound and first base. Kuo tried to field it but could not get there in time.
Chavez then put on a clinic on advancing without a hit, going to second on a wild pitch, and third on a sacrifice bunt by Tom Glavine. Jose Reyes then knocked him in for the Mets’ first run on a groundout that shortstop Rafael Furcal bobbled.
“Endy again came up big-time for us,” Mets manager Willie Randolph said. “Guy can play the game, that’s why he’s in the game.”
Chavez finished the night 2-for-4 and keyed the Mets’ 4-1 victory in Game 2 of the NLDS. Randolph gave Chavez his first postseason start when he decided to sit Shawn Green and put Chavez in right field.
“Endy is a part of the team,” Randolph said, explaining why he started him. “He’s done a good job for us this year and deserves to play. He should play.”
Randolph then joked to the reporter who asked about Chavez starting, “Don’t you like Endy?”
Mets fans really like Endy. The 28-year-old was an afterthought coming into the season, but became a valuable member of the team with various injuries to Cliff Floyd, Carlos Beltran and Xavier Nady. Chavez batted .306 with 42 RBIs and 48 runs scored. Along the way, the Shea faithful fell in love with the extra outfielder.
“It’s kind of amazing,” Cliff Floyd said. “You’re kind of hoping that you can have a DH so he can play. You talk about 25 men, you talk about everybody contributing. Willie’s allowed him to play and all he’s done in return is just take advantage of the opportunity and ran with it. You have to tip your hat to him. It’s not easy, that role he’s in.”
Chavez said he was surprised when he saw his name in the lineup against a left-handed pitcher. “That put a smile on my face because I love to be in the field,” Chavez said.
When Chavez came up in the sixth with the bases loaded, the fans chanted his name. He hit into a fielder’s choice but recovered a bit, breaking up a double play with a hard slide on Julio Franco’s grounder that scored Floyd.
Randolph has shown confidence in Chavez all year, and now that is paying off.
“He’s given me a lot of support and a lot of confidence and I appreciate that,” Chavez said. “I feel comfortable every time I am on the field.”