Jose Reyes gets hit, leaves game early ahead in batting race

It was 70 years ago today -- Sept. 28, 1941 -- that the Red Sox's Ted Williams went 6-for-8 in a doubleheader against the Philadelphia Athletics to finish the season hitting .406. He entered the day at .400, and is the last major leaguer to finish a year at .400 or higher.

Jose Reyes entered today -- the last day of the regular season -- leading the National League batting race by a point. And he was booed off the field.

BOX SCORE: �Mets 3, Reds 0

PHOTOS: �Jose Reyes images

Reyes, the Mets' shortstop and free agent to be, bunted to lead off the bottom of the first inning of a scoreless game against the Reds at Citi Field. He then pulled himself from the game, and he was replaced by pinch-runner Justin Turner.

Reyes ends the season hitting .337, meaning the Brewers' Ryan Braun, who trails him in the NL batting race at .335, needs to go at least 3-for-4 tonight at home against the Pirates to pass Reyes.

"I don't care what people think," Reyes said afterward. "A lot of people told me, 'Don't play today.'

"I want to stay in the game, but they (the fans) have to understand what's going on."

Reyes came to the plate to cheers, and also heard them after the game.

"One thing I do all the time is play 100% every day," Reyes said. "It is what it is. I went 1-for-1, we won the game, so that's good."

According to Newsday's David Lennon, Reyes said before the games he plans to have 15-20 friends over to his house tonight to watch the Brewers' game.

"I'm gonna watch the game," Reyes said. "That's no easy thing to do, to win a batting title."

Also according to Lennon, before the Mets game, New York manager Terry Collins had said about Reyes' future: "I think he'll be back."

Collins and Reyes discussed the move beforehand and the shortstop said he wanted to leave the game if he got a hit in his first at-bat.

Collins said he asked him if he's sure, and that Reyes reiterated that's what he wanted.

"I heard some comments in the stands, and I don't blame 'em," he said. "People pay a good price to come to the games, but they have to understand that we ask the players to do a lot."

Collins then got choked up and paused for several seconds before continuing.

"We worked hard to earn their respect, and they deserve ours," he said.

The Mets finished 77-85 in Collins' first season as manager, a year overshadowed by fallout from the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme.

sports football cricket golf baseball soccer sports news football news cricket news golf news