Prized addition named opening-day starter for Mets

The Mets have established the first four arms of their five-man rotation: Johan Santana, Pedro Martinez, Oliver Perez, John Maine. AP

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) -- Johan Santana -- surprise, surprise -- was picked to pitch on opening day for the New York Mets. They're still undecided on a No. 5 starter.

Orlando Hernandez and Mike Pelfrey, the leading candidates for the job, were both ineffective Sunday in a 14-4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

El Duque gave up five runs and four hits in three innings, then Pelfrey was rocked for eight runs and 13 hits in 4 1-3 innings.

Hernandez, making his spring debut, struggled with his command, although his fastball was in the 83-85 mph range -- up from the 78-81 mph he displayed in two simulated games. He threw 69 pitches with just 38 strikes.

"I felt a little weird and I didn't have great command," Hernandez said. "My mechanics are no good yet. I need to work in the bullpen before my next start."

Velocity wasn't a problem for Pelfrey, but keeping the ball down was.

"Maybe his adrenaline was too much, I don't know," Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "Every time he got the ball up he got pounded. He obviously didn't step up in a time when he had an opportunity to."

So for now, the Mets will go into the final week of spring training with one lingering question -- who will be their No. 5 starter?

"We're going to have a fifth starter," Randolph said. "He may not break camp with us, but we're going to have a fifth starter."

Randolph did announce his rotation for the first week of the season on Sunday. As expected, Santana will start the opener March 31 at Florida. The two-time Cy Young Award winner, acquired from Minnesota last month, will be followed by Pedro Martinez, Oliver Perez and John Maine.

Because of days off, New York doesn't necessarily need a fifth starter until April 12 against Milwaukee, but Randolph plans to use a five-man rotation from the start.

The Cardinals finished with 21 hits, highlighted by two-run homers from Rick Ankiel and Colby Rasmus. Albert Pujols had two hits and two RBIs.

St. Louis starter Todd Wellemeyer allowed three runs and five hits in 4 2-3 innings.

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