Geremi Gonzalez Killed

Former Mets pitcher Geremi Gonzalez was killed by a lightning strike in his native Venezuela on Sunday. He was 33.

Emergency management official Herman Bracho said yesterday that Gonzalez was struck by lightning at a beach.

Gonzalez pitched for five major-league teams from 1997-06. He started three games for the Mets during the 2006 season, when he was known as Jeremi.

One of his starts for the Mets was the incredibly memorable 7-6 win over the Yankees. Gonzalez gave up four runs in the top of the first but Beltran answered with a 3-run homer. The Mets eventually won on a walkoff single by David Wright off Mariano Rivera.

The righthander appeared in 131 games with 83 starts, compiling a 30-35 record. He won 11 games for the Cubs in 1997.

Gonzalez also played for Tampa Bay, Boston and Milwaukee. He made a combined 24 appearances for the Mets and Brewers in his final major-league season in 2006.