THE SIDELINES : Jefferies Homers Twice, Doubles Twice to Lead Mets Over Cardinals

Gregg Jefferies homered twice, doubled twice and drove in five runs today, leading the Mets past the St. Louis Cardinals 13-1 as Frank Viola got more runs than he did in all seven of his previous starts for New York.

Jefferies doubled in the first, hit a two-run homer in the third, doubled in the fourth and hit a three-run homer in the fifth. It was the first five-RBI game of his one-year major league career.

St. Louis, which made a season-high five errors, dropped one game behind the NL East-leading Chicago Cubs, who played at Philadelphia Thursday night. New York closed to within three games.

Viola, acquired by the Mets from Minnesota on July 31, got 10 runs in his first seven starts for New York. It was just the third time in 15 starts since June 23 that he got more than three runs.

Viola, 3-4, allowed six hits in seven innings, struck out six and walked two. He also got two hits and drove in the first run of his professional career. Jeff Musselman and Julio Machado each pitched an inning.