Mike Jacobs finally was able to silence the boos at Citi Field, at least for a little while.
The struggling first baseman had become the primary target for Mets fans after he went hitless in his first three at-bats yesterday, continuing an ugly start to the season.
But he took former Yankee Brian Bruney deep in the eighth off the façade in right field, providing the Mets’ only runs of the day.
“The fans here in New York are hard on people,” said Jacobs, whose average is still just .133. “They always have been and always will be. They expect you to go out there and win every day and when they feel you’re not performing well, they’ll let you know about it. You take it for what it is and let it burn a little fire in your belly.”
The Mets had gotten little production out of the platoon of Jacobs and Fernando Tatis, but Jacobs said he thought yesterday’s shot could get him going.
“I hope it’s something I can build on the road trip to try and get my bat going,” Jacobs said. “I didn’t have as many at-bats as I’m used to in spring training.”
Jacobs said he didn’t mind the rough treatment.
“You have to have thick skin,” Jacobs said. “And you have to have thicker skin when you’re here. . . . I don’t blame them. For me, [the home run] takes a little pressure off.”
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Left-hander Raul Valdes made his major league debut, relieving Johan Santana to begin the sixth.
Valdes took the roster spot of Sean Green, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Thursday with a right intercostal muscle strain.
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Jose Reyes, in his second game back from his stint on the disabled list, went 1-for-4, with a double to right in the fifth inning. Reyes said he felt good but didn’t consider chancing it by trying to go to third.
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Luis Castillo didn’t start again because of a stiff right calf, but was used as a pinch-hitter, grounding to short in place of Santana in the fifth. Manuel said he expects him to start tomorrow. . . . Washington’s Ryan Zimmerman sat out with a tight left hamstring.