Mets ‘Fanatics’ Cash In At Shea

Three men in “Greed” T-shirts added a new twist to baseball’s fan backlash Friday night.

The three ran onto the Shea Stadium field in the fourth inning of the Mets-Cardinals game, threw 150 $1 bills at the players and then stood at second base with their fists raised and got a loud ovation from the paid crowd of 26,604 - almost 16,000 less than last year’s opening-day attendance.

“That was a great stunt. Very ingenious. If they had thrown $50s out, we might have picked them up,” Mets starter Bret Saberhagen said.

The game was interrupted five other times by fans running on the field. One man yanked third base out of the ground and tried to climb back into the stands with it. Another ran to deep center field, took a small camera out of his pocket and took two snapshots.

“They were idiots. What do you want me to say, that they’re nice guys?” Mets manager Dallas Green said.

Around the N.L.

Florida reliever Bryan Harvey lasted three batters before tightness in his shoulder forced him to leave… . Colorado’s David Neid was supposed to start Friday night’s game but he was placed on the injury list with a hurt elbow. Teammate Larry Walker left the game in the sixth inning with a strained left thigh. He is listed as day-to-day. … Phillies pitcher Tommy Greene, slowed by a sore shoulder, has decided against surgery.

The Dodgers played without All-Star catcher Mike Piazza, who suffered a strained right hamstring in his team’s 4-2 victory over Florida on Wednesday night. Piazza is listed day-to-day.

Cubs 4, Expos 1

Chicago

Losers in its first 12 games at Wrigley Field last season, Chicago won its 1995 home opener behind Kevin Foster’s three-hit pitching in six innings and Sammy Sosa’s two-run homer.

Giants 4, Marlins 0

San Francisco

Before its smallest opening-day crowd in two decades, San Francisco got six scoreless innings from Mark Leiter in its win over Florida.

Glenallen Hill hit a three-run homer and Darren Lewis had a runscoring single.

Rockies 2, Astros 1

Houston

Houston fell 10,000 fans and two runs short of its goals for its home opener in the Astrodome.

The Astros hoped for a win and a crowd of more than 40,000, but they announced a paid attendance of 30,405, their lowest opener since they drew 25,318 in 1992.

Phillies 5, Pirates 2

Philadelphia

Paul Quantrill pitched six shutout innings and Kevin Stocker drove in three runs as Philadelphia beat Pittsburgh.

Mets 10, Cardinals 8

New York

Todd Hundley’s basesloaded double in the seventh inning capped New York’s comeback from a five-run deficit as the Mets beat St. Louis.

Dodgers 9, Braves 1

Los Angeles

Pedro Astacio, who entered the game with an 0-5 lifetime record and a 5.16 ERA against Atlanta, and five relievers scattered four hits, and Billy Ashley drove in five runs as Los Angeles remained undefeated by beating Atlanta.

Padres 8, Reds 7

San Diego

Bip Roberts’ basesloaded infield single with two outs in the ninth inning gave San Diego the victory over winless Cincinnati.

The Padres drew 10,307 fans for their third home game. They drew 10,756 for their third home game last season.