Citi Field

Rod Barajas and Jeff Francoeur became the first Mets hitters to homer twice out of Citi Field in the same game, powering New York past the Washington Nationals, 8-2, on a windy night. Despite gusts well over 20 mph that knocked down fly balls and littered the field with hot dog wrappers, the Mets posted their first four-homer performance at the ballpark that opened in 2009. They totaled only 49 home runs last year in their new, spacious home. Barajas and Francoeur sent their shots to leftfield.

Fans at Citi Field booed the free-falling New York Mets even more loudly than they jeered Manny Ramirez - before he got ejected. Ramirez drove in three runs with two singles, then was ejected following his second called strikeout, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat what's left of the Mets, 8-0, last night. Clayton Kershaw (6-5) combined with three relievers on a four-hitter, pinch-hitter Blake DeWitt hit a seventh-inning homer off the front of the second deck in leftfield and Los Angeles twice scored with bases-loaded walks.

Toronto's Brett Lawrie was suspended for four games after he angrily threw his batting helmet Tuesday - and it bounced off umpire Bill Miller. Lawrie, outraged at ball and strike calls, is appealing and can play until there is a decision. The 22-year-old was in the starting lineup Wednesday night against the New York Yankees - with the same umpiring crew in town. Miller was at third base. Lawrie received the loudest cheer in pregame introductions and the umpires were booed when their names were posted on the scoreboard.

7:10 Citi Field, New York. TV: Comcast SportsNet. Radio: WPHT (1210-AM); WUBA (1480-AM) Spanish. TONIGHT'S PITCHERS Phillies RHP Roy Halladay vs. Mets RHP Jenrry Mejia (0-3, 3.86) WHO'S HOT: Shane Victorino: In three games in the leadoff spot, he is 8-for-16 with six runs, four steals and three RBI. WHO'S NOT: Roy Halladay: Yeah, it's a stretch. After all, he's pitched seven innings in each of his last three starts, and has recorded quality starts in two of him. But he's allowed at least at least three earned runs in three straight outings for the first time season.

U.S. Reps. Dennis Kucinich and Ted Poe are urging the Obama administration to demand that Citigroup drop its $400 million, 20-year naming rights deal for Citi Field, the New York Mets' new stadium scheduled to open in April, because of $45 billion the bank received in government aid. "At Citigroup, 50,000 people will lose their jobs. Yet in the boardroom of Citigroup, spending $400 million to put a name on stadium seems like a good idea," said Kucinich, an Ohio Democrat. Citigroup reached its agreement with the Mets 3 years ago. It is among several American banks that have received financial assistance from the federal government in recent months.

Dykstra's reportedly behind in the count Celebrated in recent years as a Wall Street wizard, Lenny Dykstra is flat broke, according to a report in the New York Post. The former Phillies and Mets centerfielder may lose his $18 million California mansion and private jet, according to court documents and associates. "He's been writing bad checks all over town," an unidentified source was quoted as saying. Dykstra purchased his Thousand Oaks estate from Wayne Gretzky.

The Atlanta Braves have made a one-year offer to free-agent outfielder Johnny Damon that is worth at least $5 million, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Damon, 36, batted .282 with 24 homers and 82 RBIs for the New York Yankees last season. The Yankees have added Curtis Granderson from Detroit. Damon would be "a pretty legit leadoff hitter who has some experience," Braves third baseman Chipper Jones told the newspaper. "It would make us a deeper team. . . . You can't beat having that experience in your clubhouse and on your team, on the field and somewhere at top of your lineup.

Toronto's Brett Lawrie was suspended for four games after he angrily threw his batting helmet Tuesday - and it bounced off umpire Bill Miller. Lawrie, outraged at ball and strike calls, is appealing and can play until there is a decision. The 22-year-old was in the starting lineup Wednesday night against the New York Yankees - with the same umpiring crew in town. Miller was at third base. Lawrie received the loudest cheer in pregame introductions and the umpires were booed when their names were posted on the scoreboard.

JOSE REYES went hitless in his return to Citi Field and Lucas Duda lined a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning that caromed off reliever Edward Mujica, sending the New York Mets to a 2-1 victory over the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night. A fan favorite during nine seasons with the Mets, Reyes was back to play in New York for the first time since signing a $106 million, 6-year contract with the division-rival Marlins in December. He said it was an exciting and emotional day, but he wasn't sure what to expect.

NEW YORK - The No. 4 and No. 5 hitters are batting a combined 4 for 39 (.102). The standout No. 3 hitter is nursing a finger injury. And the Phillies thought they had problems? The New York Mets, the consensus pick to finish fifth in the five-team National League East, will visit Citizens Bank Park on Friday for a weekend series with the Phillies. Still, the Phillies face a team that started on fire by winning its first four games, only to drop the next two in more recent Mets-like fashion, scoring a total of two runs in the two losses.

NEW YORK - Brad Lidge laughed when told by a reporter that the fans in Philadelphia are already worried about the Phillies after their 1-3 start. Lidge, a hero of the Phillies' 2008 World Series championship team and now a reliever with the Washington Nationals, apparently has more confidence than some of the fans in his former team. Speaking before Tuesday's game at Citi Field against the New York Mets, Lidge conceded that the National League East, which the Phillies have won five consecutive seasons, is more open this year.

THE SEASON is off to an unexpected start for the New York Mets. They're the ones getting big hits while their opponents make the crucial mistakes. Daniel Murphy singled home the winning run in the ninth inning and the undefeated Mets took advantage of a throwing error by reliever Henry Rodriguez to beat the visiting Washington Nationals, 4-3, on Monday night. Kirk Nieuwenhuis hit his first major league homer for the Mets, who are 4-0 for the first time since 2007. After a surprising sweep of Atlanta, New York rallied from a three-run deficit before a crowd of 23,970.

In case you missed it while mowing your lawn or washing the car, Saturday was National Beer Day. And in a perfect relationship no marketing exec could have invented, it was the first full weekend of baseball. As best-selling author Peter Richmond once noted: "Beer needs baseball, and baseball needs beer - it has always been thus. "   Age is just a number Former Phillie fave Jamie Moyer gave up the 512th home run of his career, the most all time. The slugger was Jordan Schafer, who had not been born when the Souderton native, 49, made his MLB debut in June 1986.

JAYSON WERTH, RF Nationals Why him: Obviously needs to be more productive than last season (career-worst .232 batting average), especially with cleanup hitter Michael Morse dealing with a strained muscle in his back. Quote to note: "This is home for me now vs. coming in last year; didn't really know what to expect and didn't really know anybody," Werth said. "Now I feel like this is my team and I am part of the action here. It is going to be a good couple of years.

DETROIT TIGERS third baseman Miguel Cabrera says his vision is fine and that he'll be ready to play on Opening Day. Cabrera rejoined his teammates Monday for the first time since a bad-hop grounder broke a bone below his right eye a week ago against the Phillies. The star slugger will be examined Tuesday to see if he's OK. Tigers manager Jim Leyland has said he'll put Cabrera back in the lineup 2 days after he's cleared. The Tigers open the season on April 5 at home against Boston.

Poor Fausto Carmona. First he lost his identity when it was discovered his real name is Roberto Hernandez, and now he's lost a lot of money. Recently cleared of false identity charges in the Dominican Republic, Hernandez still has not reported to spring training while he sorts out various legal problems. The Indians, not knowing when he might be able to report, renegotiated he contract. Downward. Thought to be 28, Hernandez was revealed to be 31. He now will make $2.5 million as a base salary in 2012 and can earn an additional $2.7 million in performance and roster bonuses.

He couldn't stay away. Would you, if you were Andy Pettitte? The 39-year-old lefthander, who was in camp earlier with the New York Yankees as an instructor and threw batting practice, ended his one-year retirement Friday and signed a minor-league deal with an invite to big-league spring training. If he makes it, he gets a $2.5 million, one-year contract. Given that he was an all-star and went 11-3 for the Yankees in 2010, we don't blame either the pitcher or the club for wondering if there's still something left.