ASS News » teammates were congratulating him for the rare

NEW YORK -- Taylor Teagarden had no idea how much of a relief his grand slam was to the scuffling New York Mets until his teammates were congratulating him for the rare hit with the bases loaded. Teagarden homered in his Mets debut, Daniel Murphy had a two-run shot and New York beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-2 Tuesday night to snap a six-game skid. "If I could help get the monkey off the back, whatever it takes," Teagarden said. Called up from Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday to replace demoted catcher Travis dArnaud, Teagarden connected for his second career slam after Marco Estrada walked the bases loaded in the sixth inning. The 30-year-old Teagarden had struck out in his first two at-bats. He said his teammates let him know just how poorly theyve done with the bases loaded after he returned to the dugout. Playing in front of a season-low Citi Field crowd of 20,206 that booed Ryan Braun in each of his four plate appearances, the Mets improved to 11 for 64 (.172) with the sacks full. "He didnt know you werent supposed to get a hit," manager Terry Collins said with a big grin. Daisuke Matsuzaka (3-0) pitched six effective innings and Murphy homered off Estrada in the third. Before the game, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said Collins job is secure after the team returned from a 4-7 road trip a season-worst seven games under .500. Outhit 6-5, the Mets scored their most runs in 16 home games since a 7-6 loss in 10 innings to Miami on April 26. Matsuzaka was hit high on the outside of his right thigh by a line drive in the sixth. Making his third start of the year, the right-hander recovered to throw out Carlos Gomez and finished the inning. Collins said the plan was to send Matsuzaka out for the start of the seventh because he was at 100 pitches. "Pitch-count wise I think I wouldve been able to go into the next inning fine," Matsuzaka said through a translator. "Right now its not too bad, but it should start swelling I think by tomorrow, so well see what happens." Estrada (5-3) has given up a major league-worst 20 homers this season, and both long balls Tuesday followed walks. "I threw a lot of close pitches. Guys just laid off of them," Estrada said. "I dont understand why Im walking so many guys right now. Ive got to figure this out now because its getting out of hand." Murphy connected after Ruben Tejada walked with two outs in the third, the ball just clearing the right field wall for a 2-0 lead. Murphy, who spent his off day Monday participating in a White House summit on working families, has five homers. The Brewers cut the lead in half in the fourth after Khris Davis was hit by a pitch from Matsuzaka. Running on a full-count pitch to Lyle Overbay, Davis scored from first when Overbay hit a sharp grounder inside first base for a run-scoring double. Matsuzaka, however, kept the NL Central leaders in check. He allowed three hits and three walks, striking out five. Estrada walked David Wright and Curtis Granderson with one out in the sixth. After Chris Young struck out, Lucas Duda walked to load the bases. Teagardens drive hit off the top of the wall down the right field line and ricocheted into the seats for his first slam since 2008 with Texas. "I think the at-bats leading up were really good, too," Murphy said. Gomez, traded by the Mets to Minnesota as part of the deal that brought Johan Santana to New York in February 2008, had an RBI double in the eighth off Jeurys Familia. NOTES: Mets RHP Matt Harvey (Tommy John surgery) was scheduled to throw off a slope but that was pushed back. Alderson said Harvey is doing well. The schedule was changed because the teams doctors didnt want Harvey pitching too soon. ... Mets RHP Gonzalez Germen (virus and abscess) was activated from the 15-day DL after the game. LHP Scott Rice was sent to Triple-A Las Vegas. ... OF Eric Young Jr. (hamstring) has started running, but not at full speed. He has also been hitting. ... Brewers RHP Tyler Thornburg (elbow soreness) had an MRI. Manager Ron Roenicke said the team is waiting for a radiologist to examine the results before revealing anything. He did say its not an injury that would require Tommy John surgery. Roger Clemens Blue Jays Jersey . 9 Baylor Bears just needed some time to get on track in their first game after the Christmas break. Roberto Alomar Blue Jays Jersey . - San Diego Padres centre fielder Cameron Maybin is going to be out two to three months after rupturing his left biceps tendon during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. http://www.bluejaysonline.com/blue-jays-randal-grichuk-jersey/ . The Eastern Conference-leading Celtics finished their recent trek at 3-1 on Monday in Salt Lake City when Rajon Rondo made a key jumper with 24.1 seconds remaining, as Boston held off the Utah Jazz, 107-102, at EnergySolutions Arena. Justin Smoak Blue Jays Jersey . The Braves optioned outfielder Jose Constanza to Triple-A Gwinnett. As expected, the Braves also called up right-hander Julio Teheran from Gwinnett to start Sundays game and optioned backup catcher J. Paul Molitor Blue Jays Jersey . "Im very pleased to be able to add a quarterback with Adrians experience and skill set," Calgary head coach and general manager John Hufnagel said in a statement.Rejuvenated Rangers will be looking to complete a treble in the Scottish Cup final on Saturday - live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 2pm - against an Hibernian side whose sole focus will be on laying a 114-year hoodoo to rest. Mark Warburtons reshaped side already have the Petrofac Training Cup and Ladbrokes Championship trophy on the sideboard and, like Hibs, have the additional carrot of a ticket to the Europa League qualifiers if they prevail on Saturday. Rangers Dominic Ball is suspended after picking up a yellow card in the semi-final win over Celtic and Harry Forrester is out injured while Billy King and Michael OHalloran are cup-tied. Hibs can count on the support of one of Scotlands most famous sporting families Martyn Waghorn returned from three months out in the final game of the season at St Mirren, and the 28-goal striker is sure to be a key figure in Warburtons pre-match planning. He is likely to be given a pivotal role in attack alongside Kenny Miler and Barrie McKay. Rangers Martyn Waghorn will have a key role to play for his side Rangers have not played a competitive game for three weeks although they did enjoy a work-out in a bounce game at Tottenhams Enfield training centre last week. Hibs will look to end a run of 10 Scottish Cup final defeats stretching back to 1902 when they play Rangers This weekends match is only their second appearance together in the final after 1979s three-game saga, eventually won by Rangers 3-2 following a second replay. Rangers manager Mark Warburton says winning the Scottish Cup this season would be a bonus after achieving promotion On a day rich with possibility, the 131st final is the first time two sides from outside of the top flight have met in the national showpiece. The clubs have locked horns five times this season; Rangers hold a 3-2 advantage in the head-to-head and they have shared 23 goals so it all points to an entertaining encounter this afternoon. Hibernian manager Alan Stubbs says his side are determined to win the final after losing in the playoffs last week Hibs agonising play-off loss to Falkirk may have consigned them to a third successive season in the Championship, but it did afford them a nine-day break ahead of this game, their 53rd of a gruelling season. Two of the players from the 1979 Scottish Cup final look back at the three games it took to separate Hibs and Rangers The season began last July with a 6-2 Challenge Cup defeat by Rangers and they will be looking to go one better than they did in the League Cup final against Ross County in March, a last-minute Alex Schalk goal sealing Countys win.dddddddddddd Former Leicester goalkeeper Conrad Logan hopes some of his old teams luck rubs off on him when he plays for Hibernian The weight of history will be on their shoulders as they have lost 10 finals since they last tasted success in the competition in 1902. Hibs 25-goal striker Jason Cummings has a fine record against Rangers - but will he start? Many of their fans will be pinning their hopes on talisman Jason Cummings, who has a fine record against Rangers - eight goals in the past two seasons - but manager Alan Stubbs says he is not guaranteed a start. Rangers winning the Scottish Cup would be a perfect end to a great season, according to Kenny Miller He told the Evening News: I want players who are going into the game in form. Jason got left out on Friday against Falkirk, it was just a call I went with. The fact that James Keatings scored twice has done him no harm whatsoever. Keeper Conrad Logan (centre) was Hibs hero in the Cup semi-final win over Dundee United Was it justified or not? Other people can decide that, but on the day I felt it was the right decision. Rangers assistant boss David Weir says he has no concerns about his players fitness going into the Scottish Cup final The loss of five goals in two matches against Falkirk may prompt Stubbs to turn back to Mark Oxley ahead of semi-final hero Conrad Logan in goal. Hibernians Fraser Fyvie was part of the Wigan squad who shocked Manchester City to win the FA Cup in 2013, and he thinks Hibs can lift the Scottish Cup Midfield schemer Dylan McGeouch is also back in contention having struggled with a groin problem recently. Nicky Clark could add a third medal to an already successful season if Rangers beat Hibs ' ' '