Unlike Pal David Wright, Mark Reynolds Can Wrap His Head Around Citi Field

NEW YORK -- To Citi Field, Mark Reynolds says, "Bah!"

Got that David Wright?

Consider this: After his first three games at the Mets' hitters' graveyard, the Diamondbacks' third baseman has as many homers at the new stadium as Wright, his childhood pal and Mets counterpart.

"I've got to text him in a little bit," Reynolds said Monday.

On his 26th birthday, Reynolds slugged a pair of bombs to help make a winner of Dan Haren, who was due a victory in a game where he didn't pitch well, considering some of his tough-luck losses. Reynolds crushed a solo shot to left-center in the first and then ripped an outside fastball to right-center for two runs in the second.

"There is not a park in the big leagues that can hold him when he gets a hold of one," Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch said.

Most Home Runs at Citi Field
Player	HR
Fernando Tatis, Mets	5
Gary Sheffield, Mets	5
David Wright, Mets	4
Mark Reynolds, D'backs	4

The two homers gave Reynolds 32 for the season, second in the majors to Albert Pujols, and four for the series despite sitting out one of the four games.

"It is a big park," he shrugged. "I just happened to hit four of the longest ones I've ever hit here."

Reynolds had been warned. He had been warned by Washington's Ryan Zimmerman, another southeast Virginia pal. He had been warned by his brother ("Good luck in New York"). And had been warned by Wright, who in 52 home games has four homers and 18 RBI.

"I heard all about it," he said.

So has Wright.

Citi Field's dimensions and tall fences seem to have gotten to Wright, who last year had 21 homers at Shea Stadium (by no means a hitters' park) and this year has just seven total.

"I think it can, honestly," Reynolds said. "They remember the first day we took [batting practice] here, it was like, 'There's no way. This place is unbelievably huge.' I would hit some in BP and they would go to the warning track.

"I think it can get into your head mentally, if everyone in the media, all your buddies, keep pounding into your head, 'This place is huge, it's hard to hit a homer here, it's hard to do this and that.'

"But I don't see Dave changing his approach. He's still going to hit .330 every year, and if his homers are down, it's not a big deal. He's still a great hitter, he's still driving in runs."