BASEBALL ROUNDUP : Mets Sweep Out the Old to Open Season

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The New York Mets, losers of 103 games last season, unbeaten and in first place?

“I don’t think you can set up the victory parade for anything yet,” Manager Dallas Green said Wednesday after a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs completed a three-game sweep at Chicago. “A series doesn’t make a year. But we came to play in very difficult weather. We took it to the other guys.”

It was the first time the Mets had swept a three-game series on the road to open the season, and they’re 3-0 for the first time since 1987. Including last season, they have won nine in a row.

“We’re catching the baseball. That’s something we haven’t done the last two years. And we have the right blend of guys,” third baseman Bobby Bonilla said.

Bobby Jones gave up five hits in seven innings for the Mets in 35-degree temperatures.

The Mets managed only three hits, none against starter Willie Banks during the first 5 2/3 innings.

Jose Vizcaino, a former Cub, ended Banks’ no-hit bid with one out in the sixth when he hit a line drive down the first-base line that went off Steve Buechele’s glove for a double.

Philadelphia 7, Colorado 5--Lenny Dykstra homered, doubled and triggered a four-run rally in the ninth inning with a walk to lead the Phillies at Denver.

Dante Bichette homered twice and drove in three runs for the Rockies.

Dykstra hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning that tied the score.

San Francisco 4, Pittsburgh 2--Mark Portugal, making his debut with the Giants, pitched a six-hitter for the major leagues’ first complete game of the season and the Giants overcame a 2-1 deficit at San Francisco.

Portugal, who signed for $11 million over three seasons after going 18-4 for the Astros last season, struck out eight and walked none in a game that took only 1 hour 54 minutes.

Kirt Manwaring’s two-run double highlighted a three-run seventh inning as the Giants won their third in a row.

The Giants had started the season by pitching 23 1/3 scoreless innings before Andy Van Slyke’s two-run homer in the sixth.

Montreal 9, Houston 3--Kirk Rueter remained perfect in nine career decisions, helping the Expos win at Houston.

Rueter was 8-0 in 14 starts as a rookie last season. He won his first start of this season despite giving up three runs on five hits in five innings.

The major league record for most consecutive victories by a starter to begin a career is 12 by George Wiltse of the New York Giants in 1904. Rueter walked two and struck out none.

Atlanta 7, San Diego 2--Rookie Ryan Klesko went four for four with three RBIs to lead the Braves at San Diego.

Klesko has gone seven for 11 with two homers, a triple and five RBIs in three games against the Padres. The Braves have 16 runs and 28 hits in winning three consecutive games. The Padres, by contrast, have gone 13 for 79 and been scoreless in 22 innings against Brave starters Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz, who was Wednesday’s winner.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Chicago 9, Toronto 2--Robin Ventura and Darrin Jackson each homered twice for the White Sox at Toronto, with Ventura hitting his fifth career grand slam.

Chicago hit five home runs as it beat Toronto after losses to the Blue Jays in the season’s first two games. Ventura twice touched off consecutive home-run bursts, first in the fourth against Pat Hentgen when Dan Pasqua followed.

Baltimore 4, Kansas City 2--Rafael Palmeiro and Kansas City nemesis Harold Baines hit consecutive home runs in the sixth inning to lead the Orioles at Baltimore.

Ben McDonald gave up two runs in 6 1/3 innings for the Orioles, who swept the series to go 2-0 for the first time since 1989. McDonald gave up eight hits, struck out three and walked one.

Boston 5, Detroit 4--Dave Valle broke a tie with a two-run triple in the sixth inning and Mike Greenwell hit a three-run homer for the Red Sox at Boston.