Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - As a closer, Armando Benitez is famous for shaving around the corners of home plate, but now he's received a bad rap for reportedly trying to become an amateur barber - all of this apparently during a game for the New York Mets.

I've never taken umbrage at baseball players for stunts they may do to lighten up the team, before, after or even during a game. Whether it be slamming a pie into the face of a rookie, like the Phillies did after Chase Utley's grand slam performance on April 24 against Colorado or playing a prank on an unsuspecting teammate during a game for laughs, those instances are in fun. However, what Benitez and shortstop Rey Sanchez reportedly did in the team clubhouse cannot be forgiven.

I usually have to call ahead for an appointment for a haircut, but apparently Sanchez didn't need that for his trimming. According to several reports, Sanchez had his hair clipped by Benitez in the team's clubhouse during an April 30 game in St. Louis, a contest in which the Mets were routed 13-4. Sanchez pinch-hit in that game and then came on as a defensive replacement.

According to a broadcast report, Mets relief pitcher Mike Stanton caught Sanchez getting the haircut. Sanchez has denied the allegation.

"It did not happen," Sanchez said before the Mets played the Dodgers Tuesday night. "I'm not embarrassed, because I didn't do anything."

Sources told the New York Post that Sanchez wasn't actually getting a full haircut, but was getting his sideburns trimmed.

With attendance for Tuesday night's game at just 21,173, maybe the Mets should pick a promotion such as 'Buy a ticket and get a haircut half off at Supercuts or the Hair Cuttery.'

As it is, almost everyone could use a haircut, but not on company time.

NO PIAZZA-MOTA MATCHUP

Tuesday night was supposed to mark the first time since an ugly spring training brawl that New York catcher Mike Piazza would have been in the same stadium with Dodgers pitcher Guillermo Mota. However, Piazza was not in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game because he had a benign mole removed from his lower abdomen Monday.

Vance Wilson started at catcher Tuesday night for the Mets and hit a homer. Piazza is day-to-day to return to the lineup, but he's not expected to play tonight either.

On March 12, Mota hit Piazza with a pitch and then tossed his glove at the Mets catcher. Piazza was restrained by several members of the Dodgers and many Mets went after Mota. After the game, Piazza even went to the LA locker room looking for Mota, but he was already gone. After appeals, both Mota and Piazza each ended up with four-game suspensions. It was the second incident in as many years between the two. During spring training in 2002, Piazza grabbed Mota around the collar after being hit with a pitch.

"I didn't think anything was going to happen. I don't think anything is going to happen the next two days, either," Mota said. "It's over with."

Tracy concurred. "I didn't expect any problems," the Dodgers manager said. "We're all professionals. We're trying to win games, they're trying to win games."

MARINERS BUST OUT THE BATS

Winners of four straight and 11 of their last 14 games, the Seattle Mariners are riding high atop the AL West and their offense has been nothing short of spectacular lately.

The M's have outscored their opponents 38-12 over the last four games and have put a 12-spot up in two of their last three contests. Dan Wilson has an 11- game hitting streak. Since going just 6-for-31 (.194) on May 1 in New York, Seattle's offense has come alive, hitting .357 (51-for-143) with nine doubles, and six homers.

"These guys have a history of swinging the bat," manager Bob Melvin said. "It was just a matter of time. Now they're swinging the bat at the same time, and that's why you see us scoring all these runs. We knew that once we got going, we'd see some runs and put some crooked numbers up there."

Mike Cameron has gone 7-for-15 with two home runs and 10 RBI in the last four games, raising his average from .238 to .273. Jeff Cirillo, who owns a six- game hit streak is batting 10-for-19 to up his average from .138 to .226.

"It's nice to contribute," said Cirillo. "April was not too good, but May is going well. There's a long way to go, but I'm contributing, and I'm feeling better about myself."

The Mariners beat the Yankees 12-7 Tuesday night, as they pounded out 15 hits and took advantage of three New York errors.