Duque does Card tricks

Five days after Orlando Hernandez left a start with a hamstring cramp, he was back in action - and clearly ready for the regular season. El Duque limited the Cardinals to one run and three hits in six innings yesterday and the Mets beat St. Louis, 2-1, on Damion Easley's eighth-inning RBI single.

Hernandez entered the game having tossed only six Grapefruit League innings. "It's significant, because we're getting close to breaking camp," Willie Randolph said. "You can always tell when El Duque is throwing the ball well - when he's throwing his breaking ball for strikes. I've known him for a long time and I know when he's about ready to rock and roll." Continue