Pinch-hitters Carl Everett and Butch Huskey hit consecutive homers in the ninth inning as the New York Mets beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-4 Sunday and moved over .500 for the first time since May 30, 1994.
Carlos Baerga led off the ninth with a single off Dennis Eckersley (0-2), and Everett connected for his third homer. Huskey followed with his second pinch-homer in four days.Cory Lidle (1-0) worked a scoreless eighth for his first major-league victory, and John Franco finished for his 10th save, helping the Mets improve to 19-18.
Marlins 6, Astros 3
At Miami, Alex Fernandez (4-4) allowed three runs six hits in six innings and hit a two-run double for the first RBIs of his career.
Moises Alou went 2-for-2 with two walks, two runs scored and an RBI. Houston outhit the Marlins 8-7 but left five runners in scoring position.
Robb Nen pitched a hitless ninth for his ninth save in 10 chances.
Phillies 3, Rockies 1
At Philadelphia, Curt Schilling (5-3) tied a career-high with 12 strikeouts, walked none and pitched a four-hitter as Philadelphia stretched a winning streak to three for the first time this season.
Colorado lost its fifth straight, the Rockies' longest skid of the year.
John Thomson (0-1), promoted from Triple-A Colorado Springs on Friday, pitched well in his major league debut. He went seven innings and gave up three runs - only one of them earned - and five hits. Gregg Jefferies hit a tiebreaking, two-run double in the seventh.
Braves 8, Pirates 2
At Pittsburgh, John Smoltz (4-3) pitched five-hit ball for seven innings and twice starting run-scoring innings.
Javy Lopez added a two-run homer, his second in as many games since ending an 0-for-20 slump. Chipper Jones had a pair of run-scoring singles and Andruw Jones was 3-for-4 with two RBIs.
Expos 6, Dodgers 3
At Los Angeles, Doug Strange tied the game with a two-out homer off Todd Worrell in the ninth, and Montreal took advantage of third baseman Todd Zeile's error in the 10th to avoid a three-game sweep and end the Dodgers' three-game winning streak.
After Omar Daal (1-0) retired pinch-hitter Mike Piazza on a bases-loaded grounder to end the Los Angeles ninth, the Expos won it with three unearned runs against Tom Candiotti (3-2).
Zeile misplayed a grounder by Mark Grudzielanek, and Darrin Fletcher singled home the go-ahead run with two outs. Vladimir Guerrero and Henry Rodriguez followed with RBI singles.
Padres 5, Reds 4
At San Diego, Archi Cianfrocco singled in the winning run in the 11th inning San Diego won consecutive games for the first time since April 11 and 13 at Philadelphia.
Derrek Lee, who had struck out in his previous seven at-bats, drew a leadoff walk from Mike Remlinger (0-2), Greg Vaughn singled and Cianfrocco followed with a liner to center.
Giants 11, Cubs 5
At San Francisco, Barry Bonds broke out of a 1-for-16 slump with a two-run homer and a double as San Francisco had its biggest scoring game of the season to beat Chicago.
J.T. Snow added his first National League homer for the Giants, who moved into first place in the NL West.
Sammy Sosa hit a three-run homer and went 3-for-4 with a walk for the Cubs.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Orioles 9, Mariners 5
At Baltimore, B.J. Surhoff homered, tripled and drove in six runs, matching his career high, as Baltimore beat Seattle to gain a split of the four-game series between division leaders.
Roberto Alomar had three hits, scored three runs and stole two bases to help the Orioles avoid their first three-game losing streak this season.
Dan Wilson hit two solo homers and Paul Sorrento and Edgar Martinez also connected for the Mariners.
Tigers 11, Indians 3
At Detroit, Tony Clark homered twice as Detroit sent Orel Hershiser (3-1) to his first loss in eight starts this season.
Phil Nevin and Damion Easley homered, and Bobby Higginson hit three doubles for Detroit. The Indians, 12-0 against the Tigers last season, have lost three of five to Detroit this year.
Justin Thompson (3-2) allowed all three runs and four hits in eight innings. Hershiser gave up six runs - four earned - and nine hits in six-plus innings, throwing three wild pitches. He has given up 11 homers, the most in the AL.
Rangers 8, Red Sox 6
At Boston, rookie Julio Santana, replacing injured starter Roger Pavlik, pitched 5 2-3 innings for his first major-league win as Texas completed a three-game sweep.
Lee Stevens drove in three runs for the Rangers, who led 8-2 in the seventh.
Pavlik was scratched Sunday morning because of elbow problems, and Santana (1-0) allowed seven hits, striking out four and walking three. John Wetteland got four outs for his eighth save in nine chances.
Yankees 3, Royals 2
At New York, David Wells (4-1) warmed up while his teammates received their 1996 World Series championship rings, then carried a two-hit shutout into the eighth.
Bernie Williams went 3-for-4 with his sixth homer as the Yankees won for the 16th time in 21 games. Mariano Rivera, who got two outs for his 13th save, and fourth in the Yankees' last four wins.
Brewers 5, Angels 2
At Milwaukee, Ben McDonald (4-2) scattered eight hits to beat the Angels for the 12th time in 16 career decisions, sending Milwaukee to its fifth straight loss.
Doug Jones pitched the ninth inning for his eighth save of the season and 250th of his career, which began in 1982. He is the 11th reliever to reach 250 saves.
Angels catcher Jorge Fabregas and manager Terry Collins were ejected by plate umpire Joe Brinkman in the second. Chuck Finley (0-3) gave up five runs and 10 hits in five innings.
White Sox 8, Athletics 5
At Chicago, Albert Belle hit a grand slam, doubled and drove in five runs as Chicago completed a four-game sweep. It was the eighth career grand slam for Belle, 3-for-3 with a sacrifice fly.
The White Sox won despite a violent collision in which right fielder Lyle Mouton broke a bone in his face and center fielder Dave Martinez sustained a slight concussion.