Major-league loser Young of Mets dies

Anthony Young pitched way better than his record showed. Working as a starter or reliever, whether at home or on the road, he often threw well enough to win.

But for the longest time, he never did.

Young, who set a major league record with 27 straight losses for the N.Y. Mets, died Tuesday. He was 51.

The team said Young died in Houston after a long illness. He had told Mets teammates at a fantasy camp this year that he had a brain tumor.

“A.Y. took a lot of kidding about his losing records,” said Doug Flynn, a former Mets second baseman. “But he was the victim of some bad luck during the streak. He knew inside that he was a better pitcher than his numbers.”

The right-hander’s streak of losses began in 1992 with the Mets and stretched into the next season. In all, the drought spanned 74 appearances he had a 4.39 ERA in that span.

Young posted 15 saves in 1992. But he was 2-14 that season, then went 1-16 in 1993 for a miserable Mets team that led the majors with 103 losses.

NO MAJOR PROBLEMS FOR FRANCONA »

Indians manager Terry Francona is expected to return for today’s game against the Rangers after a second hospital trip this month.

Francona left Monday’s game because he wasn’t feeling well and spent several hours at Cleveland Clinic, undergoing a series of tests. The Indians said doctors for now have ruled out major health issues, and Francona will be monitored the next several weeks.