 With 18 hits in his first 13 games back, including seven hits in two games, Stearns not only ousted Hodges, but even took over the starting duties from Grote for most of the rest of the season.Stearns made his Mets debut wearing number 16.For the start of the season, he and Mets center fielder Lee Mazzilli traded uniform numbers, and Stearns began wearing number 12.