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Rajai Davis takes $243 Uber to stadium, hits homer in first Mets at-bat

By Alex Butler

May 23 (UPI) -- Rajai Davis took a two-hour Uber ride to the stadium before hitting a home run in his first at-bat for the New York Mets in a 6-1 win against the Washington Nationals.

The journeyman outfielder arrived during the third inning of the victory on Wednesday at Citi Field in Queens. He was at batting practice in Pennsylvania when he was notified that he needed to get to Citi Field. Davis hopped into the Uber and entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Drew Gagnon in the eighth inning.

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New York held a 3-1 advantage when Davis stepped in to face Nationals reliever Sean Doolittle. The left-handed pitcher worked a full-count against Davis, who managed to stay alive by fouling off a series of pitches. Doolittle grooved in a 93.9-mph fastball on his ninth and final offering to Davis.

The veteran outfielder smacked the pitch to left field for his first home run of the season. The three-run shot traveled 381 feet and had an exit velocity of 103.7 mph, according to Statcast.

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The homer came just hours after the Mets promoted Davis from Triple-A as a replacement for Brandon Nimmo. Davis told reporters he jumped in the Uber and took a two-hour ride to Citi Field from Allentown, Pa. The ride was about $243, according to Davis.

"We got to know each other," Davis said of his Uber drive, Jason. "Me and Jason, we got to know each other."

Davis, 38, has played for eight different MLB franchises. He hit .224 with a home run, six RBIs and 21 stolen bases in 101 games last season for the Cleveland Indians.

He owns a career .262 batting average with 62 home runs and 415 stolen bases. Davis is the league's active leader in career steals.

The Mets trailed 1-0 after seven innings, following Adam Eaton's first inning home run for the Nationals. Juan Lagares sparked the eighth inning rally with a three-run double before Davis doubled the lead with his three-run homer.

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The Mets host the Nationals again at 12:10 p.m. on Thursday in Queens.

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