TORONTO, 27 August 2005 — Pedro Martinez tossed six scoreless innings for the streaking New York Mets who tamed Arizona Diamondbacks 3-1 on Thursday to complete a four-game sweep and keep pace in the National League wildcard race.
The win was the Mets’ ninth in 12 games and fourth straight moving the New Yorkers into a tie with the Houston Astros and Florida Marlins for second place in the NL wild card standings, 1 1/2 games behind the first-place Philadelphia Phillies.
Martinez (13-5) was razor sharp surrendering just two hits and striking out six to record his first win in six starts.
Braden Looper came on in the ninth to get the final three outs and his 26th save.
The Mets took command with a two-run second inning burst.
Mike Jacobs grounded into an RBI double play to bring across the first run followed by Victor Diaz who took Javier Vazquez’s offering and parked it in the left field bleachers for his nine home run of the season.
Chad Tracy homered in the eighth to pull the Diamondbacks to within one but Diaz restored the two-run cushion on a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth.
Vazquez (10-13) was tagged with the loss giving up two runs on just four hits over seven innings.
In Pittsburgh, Jim Edmonds and Albert Pujols homered and Matt Morris pitched seven solid innings as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Pirates 6-3.
Edmonds went 3-for-4 for at the plate, scored three runs and had a pair of RBIs as manager Tony La Russa notched career win 2,195 to move into third place on the all-time list ahead of Sparky Anderson.
Matt Morris (14-5) worked seven solid innings to take credit for the victory, yielding two runs on nine hits and striking out a pair.
In Milwaukee, Juan Pierre drove in the go ahead run in the top of the 10th inning as the Florida Marlins downed the Brewers 3-1 to notch their eighth win in 12 games.
In Washington, Ken Griffey Jr. homered, Austin Kearns had a pair of RBIs and Brandon Claussen tossed 5 2/3 inning to claim his fifth straight win as the Cincinnati Reds eased past the Nationals 5-3.
In Los Angeles, Matt Holliday slammed a three-run homer and Aaron Miles and Dustan Mohr each added solo shots powering the Colorado Rockies past the Dodgers 5-4.
