AMAZIN’ FIRE

Bruce (2 HR) in win vs. Phils

like that,” Bruce said. “Obviously no one likes getting balls thrown up at their head. I also can’t say it was on purpose.” Well, it looked like it was. Ramos’ pitch had sailed over and behind Cabrera’s head. The 24-yearold righty said it was a pitch that got away from him and was not meant to send a message. But it seemingly woke up a Mets team that has had a sluggish start to the season.

Cabrera immediately started walking toward the mound, screaming at the pitcher. The Met dugout got to its feet and the relievers all hovered by the stairs, watching to see what would happen.

Both dugouts were warned and Phillies manager Pete Mackanin was ejected for arguing the warning. It lit a fire under the Mets. “I think after it happened, guys were talking about it. Certainly didn’t expect it. Hit a game winning home run, you over-react. As we all know the game is changing today, it’s a celebration,” Terry Collins said when asked if it changed the tenor of the game. “I was surprised by it. I really was.”

So was Cabrera, who claimed he had forgotten that Ramos was the pitcher he had hit the walkoff off of until after Monday night’s game. He was furious with the placement of the pitch.

“What happened last year, still last year, you know. I think when you hit a home run to win the game, it’s not like do something to make him feel like it was worse, so I was just enjoying the home run,” Cabrera said of that Sept. 22 home run and bat flip. “What he did today, was bad. You want to hit somebody, you make sure you throw the ball down, not at the head.”

Ramos claimed the ball got away from him and that bygones are bygones. He did admit, however his fellow Venezuelan’s reaction last year bothered him.

“Yeah, a little, but again that was last year,” Ramos said through the Phillies’ team translator. But then he added that did not have anything to do with Monday night pitch.

“No, like I said already, the pitch got away from me. That’s all.”

Whether intentional or not, the Mets have to hope the fire it ignited on Monday stays lit. The Mets went into Monday night hitting .200, the second worst team batting average in the majors. Bruce, who hit .219 with 19 RBI and eight home runs in 50 games with the Mets, has been the rare hot hand.

He’s happy to carry the mantle for now.

“I want to be a good player, I want to help this team win. I believe we have a legitimate chance to win a World Series. I want to be one of the pieces of the puzzle,” Bruce said. “Fortunately we have a very, very deep team, a veteran team understand what it takes every single day. We can pass the baton, pass the baton and great things are going to happen.

“I have the ability to be a big part of that and I plan on it.”