TORONTO, 9 July 2005 — Mike Piazza drove in the winning run with a single in the top of the 11th inning, lifting the New York Mets to a 3-2 win over the Washington Nationals in the National League on Thursday at RFK Stadium.
Piazza had three hits and two RBIs as the Mets took three games in the four-game series over the NL East leading Nationals, handing Washington its first series loss at home since April.
Carlos Beltran had two hits, scored twice and drove in the Mets’ other run in the game with a run-scoring groundout in the first inning.
New York starter Kris Benson pitched seven strong innings, allowing two runs on seven hits, but it was reliever Heath Bell who picked up the win. Bell (1-3) pitched two scoreless innings and Braden Lopper worked the 11th for his 20th save.
Luis Ayala (7-5) allowed one run on two hits over two innings and took the loss, giving up Piazza’s game-winning hit.
Joe Vidro’s two-run double in the third accounted for both Washington runs.
In other NL games played on Thursday, Carlos Delgado hit a grand slam as the Florida Marlins beat the Milwaukee Brewers 11-3 in Miami.
Bian Moehler (4-6) pitched five innings, allowing three runs on four hits, walking two and striking out two for the win. Juan Pierre also homered for the Marlins.
Victor Santos (2-9) pitched 4-1?3 innings, allowing eight runs — four earned — on eight hits, walking three and striking out three to take the loss. Russell Branyan and Rickie Weeks homered for the Brewers.
In Atlanta, Horacio Ramirez pitched a three-hitter as the Braves beat the Chicago Cubs 6-0 in the first game of a doubleheader.
Ramirez (8-5) walked one and struck out four. Julio Franko homered for the Braves.
Mark Prior (5-3) pitched 4-2?3 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits, walking four and striking out five to take the loss.
In Denver, Todd Helton hit two homers and drove in four runs as the Colorado Rockies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-5.
Mike DeJean (4-1) pitched one inning for the win. Brian Fuentes pitched one inning for his 11th save and Brad Hawpe homered for the Rockies.
Giovanni Carrara (6-3) got one out, allowing two runs on one hit. Jason Repko had four hits for the Dodgers.
In the second game of the doubleheader, Jeff Francoeur homered and drove in four runs as the Braves beat the Cubs 9-4.
John Foster (2-1) pitched one inning for the win. Rafael Furcal and Andruw Jones homered for the Braves. Roberto Novoa (2-2) allowed three runs on three hits to take the loss. Aramis Ramirez homered and drove in three runs for the Cubs.
In Pittsburgh, Humberto Cota homered as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1.
Zach Duke (1-0) pitched seven innings, allowing six hits, walking one and striking out eight for the win. Jose Mesa pitched one inning for his 21st save.
Brett Myers (6-5) pitched five innings, allowing two runs on three hits, walking five and striking out three to take the loss. Jason Michaels had two hits for the Phillies.
In Houston, Xavier Nady homered as the San Diego Padres beat the Astros 7-5.
Woody Williams (5-5) pitched five innings, allowing two runs on five hits, walking two and striking out four for the win. Trevor Hoffman pitched one inning for his 24th save. Wandy Rodriguez (4-4) pitched 4 1?3 innings, allowing seven runs on five hits, walking three and striking out five to take the loss. Craig Biggio, Raul Chavez and Morgan Ensberg homered for the Astros.
In Phoenix, Luis Gonzalez homered in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 2-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Kelly Stinnett also homered for Arizona. Lance Cormier (4-0) pitched a scoreless inning for the win. Ray King (2-2) allowed the lead-off homer in the ninth. Reggie Sanders drove in the lone St. Louis run.
In San Francisco, Mike Matheny hit a three-run homer as the Giants beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-1.
Matheny also had an RBI double. Brett Tomko (6-10) went five innings for the win, allowing one run on six hits.
Aaron Harang (4-8) allowed three runs — two earned — on four hits in six innings and took the loss. Joe Randa had an RBI triple for the Reds.
Rollins, Wagner Added to NL All-Stars
Meanwhile, Phillies closer Billy Wagner and shortstop Jimmy Rollins were added to the National League team on Thursday and tripled Philadelphia’s All-Star Game representation.
They replaced New York Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez and Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Cesar Izturis. Izturis went on the disabled list on Tuesday with a sore right hamstring. Martinez is scheduled to start on Sunday at Pittsburgh and won’t be available for Tuesday’s game in Detroit. With the additions, the Phillies have three All-Stars for the first time since 2002, when Rollins, Scott Rolen and Vicente Padilla were on the NL team. Bobby Abreu was elected to start in the NL outfield. It will be Wagner’s fourth All-Star game, but his first since 2001 and his first with the Phillies.
He wasn’t chosen in 2002 and 2003 despite having a combined 77 saves. Wagner was with Houston during his previous All-Star appearances.
Rollins’ first thought after learning he’s going to his third All-Star game: He hopes Abreu has room for one more on the private plane he is taking to Detroit. This will be Rollins’ first All-Star game since being elected an NL starter in 2002.
Rollins, batting .268 with seven homers and 23 RBIs, was out of the lineup for a second consecutive game on Thursday with a sore hand.
