The Houston Astros couldn't blame the "Wild Thing" for this one.
Mitch Williams, who has treated his new team to some late-inning anxiety this season, was warming up in the bullpen Thursday night when Cincinnati's Brian Dorsett hit a game-tying grand slam in the bottom of the ninth.However, the Astros were able to rally for two runs in the 10th for a face-saving 8-6 victory.
Greg Swindell was pitching a six-hitter and holding a 6-2 lead with two outs in the ninth, but he then gave up singles to Roberto Kelly and Tony Fernandez.
Houston manager Terry Collins went to his bullpen, choosing Tom Edens, the Astros' most effective reliever recently, instead of Williams.
Bad move.
Edens walked Bret Boone and grooved a 2-0 fastball to Dorsett, who homered off the facing of the third deck in left.
"A ninth-inning, bases-loaded homer is a dream come true," Dorsett said. "It was a real thrill. It would be a lot sweeter if we'd won."
Fortunately for Edens, the Astros were able to squeeze out a pair of runs with a modest but effective 10th-inning rally off Jeff Brantley (1-1).
Williams (1-2) did make an appearance in the ninth, getting the final out for the win.
Marlins 5, Phillies 0
At Miami, Chris Hammond pitched a seven-hitter and Jerry Browne tripled home three runs in the first inning.
Hammond (2-3) walked one and struck out five in pitching his first nine-inning complete game.
Mets 8, Cardinals 1
At St. Louis, Bret Saberhagen pitched a five-hitter and the New York Mets continued a long-ball barrage with three home runs.
The Mets have hit 15 home runs in their last six games and have 41 this season, one behind league-leading Colorado.
Dodgers 9, Giants 6
At San Francisco, Ramon Martinez (1-2) gave up seven hits in eight-plus innings for his first victory of the season, and Los Angeles hung on after taking an 8-1 lead.
Dave Martinez ended the game by striking out with the bases loaded in the ninth.
Mike Piazza hit a two-run homer and Eric Karros went 3-for-4 as the Dodgers got 16 hits.
Matt Williams hit his major-league leading 13th homer for the Giants.
American League
Angels 4, Athletics 3
Catcher Jorge Fabregas, a newcomer to the major leagues, is unfamiliar with most opposing hitters, but he knows how to throw them out after they reach base.
Fabregas made two key inning-ending pickoffs as the California Angels defeated the Oakland Athletics.
The 24-year-old Fabregas, who debuted in the majors on April 24 in Boston as a defensive replacement, helped struggling starter Phil Leftwich (1-4) earn his first victory after four consecutive losses.
Fabregas picked Troy Neel off first base to end the fourth inning and Scott Brosius off second base to end the fifth.
Fabregas, recalled from Triple-A Vancouver to replace the injured Greg Myers, is in just his third year as a catcher.
Royals 11, Blue Jays 9
At Toronto, Brent Mayne hit his first career grand slam as Kansas City rallied from a five-run deficit and beat Toronto.
Kansas City, which fell behind 5-0 in the first, trailed 7-3 in the third before Felix Jose's RBI single and Mayne's first homer. Joe Carter had five RBI for Toronto. He leads the AL with 39 RBI.