Span attains milestone with 30th steal

NEW YORK -- Center fielder Denard Span reached a personal milestone in the ninth inning of Friday's 4-3 loss to the Mets, stealing his 30th base of the season.

It's a particularly meaningful accomplishment for Span, who never stole more than 26 bases in a season, and that occurred in 2010, when he was with the Twins.

"It means a lot to me. You set out a goal to do something. I'm still pumped about it, to be honest with you," Span said after the game. "I worked very hard to get 30. To other big-time basestealers, it might not mean a lot, but I've come a long way in my basestealing. It's a good feeling. I want to continue to get better."

Span credits his success to first-base coach Tony Tarasco, who taught him how to prepare both mentally and physically.

"He worked with me during Spring Training," Span said. "I'm getting my technique down. He kept me confident out there. He never let me get down on myself, even when I get thrown out or make a mistake on the bases. He is always there in my ear. He tells me to keep going, and I owe him a lot."