Quote: "I joke about it [hitting], but I take it very seriously."

-- Phillies pitcher Curt Schilling, who hit his first major-league triple.

It's a fact: By adding five rows of premium seats behind home plate (the first two rows cost $150 per game, the next three $100), the Mets cut the distance from the plate to the backstop from 65 feet to 50.

Who's hot: The Cardinals' Joe McEwing has played four positions -- second, third, left and center -- and is hitting .429 (12-for-28).

Who's not: The Mets' Bobby Bonilla had a rough night, going 0-for-4 on six pitches and being booed all game by the home crowd.

On deck: Mark McGwire needs two homers to reach 100 with the Cardinals.

Pub Date: 4/17/99