Alexander Does Great Things for Mets

Shortstop Manny Alexander, activated from the disabled list earlier in the day, tripled home the winning run in the ninth inning as the New York Mets defeated the Braves, 10-7, Thursday at Atlanta.

Alexander, placed on the disabled list June 11 to have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, also homered and singled.

“Three hits, I couldn’t expect that,” Alexander said. “Something good just happened.”

With the score tied at 7-7, Carl Everett led off the ninth with a walk against Mike Bielecki and scored on Alexander’s triple. Edgardo Alfonzo added a two-run single off Brad Clontz.

Defensively, Alfonzo--who extended his hitting streak to 20 games--drew special praise from New York Manager Bobby Valentine.

“He really was a little bit of a highlight film,” Valentine said. “You need to look up the definition of a good player and his face will be there.”

Greg McMichael (5-6) got the final out in the eighth for the victory, and John Franco struck out the side in the ninth for his 21st save.

Chipper Jones, who had five runs batted in, gave the Braves a 5-1 lead in the fifth with his third grand slam in 13 games.

Houston 7, Pittsburgh 0--Darryl Kile pitched after the All-Star break just like he did before it, stopping the Pirates’ seven-game winning streak as the Astros moved into a first-place tie in the NL Central with a victory at Pittsburgh.

Kile (11-3), who was chosen for the All-Star game but did not play, pitched a six-hitter for his third shutout of the season, fifth of his career and his second in six starts. He had seven strikeouts and walked two.

“When he’s on, he’s as nasty as any pitcher in the league,” Pittsburgh’s Al Martin said. “His curveball is so nasty, and he throws it so hard you can’t even see the seams on the ball sometimes.”

Kile has given up only one run in two complete game victories over Pittsburgh this year and has won his last four decisions and 10 of his last 11.

In his last start before the All-Star break, Kile took a no-hitter into the eighth while beating Cincinnati, 2-1, giving up two runs and a hit over eight innings on July 5.

The Pirates had swept the Chicago White Sox in three games and the Cardinals in four, to regain the NL Central lead just before the All-Star break.

“I don’t think [this game] was important in the scheme of the whole season, but it would have been a real uplifting thing for the Pirates to beat our ace pitcher right after they swept the Cardinals,” Houston Manager Larry Dierker said.

St. Louis 3, Chicago 2--Gary Gaetti led off the ninth inning with his second homer of the game as the Cardinals won at Chicago to end a four-game losing streak.

“We’re just trying to win games, man, and play better in the second half than we did in the first,” Gaetti said. “This park is kind of favorable to right-handed fly ball hitters. That’s the way it has been over the years.

“I didn’t know if the wind helped the last one or not. I wasn’t sure if it was going out or not. I was just running hard and if it didn’t go out, I would have been at second or third.”

Gaetti had four hits to back the pitching of Alan Benes (8-7), who gave up five hits with five walks and six strikeouts in eight innings. Gaetti’s two-homer game was the 22nd of his career and first since last July 12, also at Wrigley Field.

The game-winner, his eighth of the season, came off Turk Wendell (2-4). Dennis Eckersley pitched the ninth for his 19th save.

Florida 8, Philadelphia 7--Alex Arias’ pinch-hit single in the ninth inning gave the Marlins a victory at Miami.

Bobby Bonilla led off the ninth with a single against Jerry Spradlin (1-5). Jeff Conine walked, and both runners moved up when Charles Johnson sacrificed against Ricky Bottalico. With the infield and outfield playing in, Arias hit a soft line drive to center field.

“To be honest I haven’t been feeling too confident at the plate,” said Arias, seven for 12 this season as a pinch-hitter and Florida’s career pinch-hit leader with 42 hits and 21 RBIs.

After the Phillies, who have lost 10 of their last 11 games, tied the score with two runs in the ninth off Robb Nen (6-2), the Marlins came back to end their three-game losing streak.

Bobby Bonilla led off the ninth with a single against Jerry Spradlin (1-5). Jeff Conine walked, and both runners moved up when Charles Johnson sacrificed against Ricky Bottalico. With the infield and outfield playing in, Arias hit a soft line drive into center field.

“Alex puts his bat on the ball and I knew he would,” Florida Manager Jim Leyland said about Arias. “He didn’t hit it hard but with the infield in we caught a break.”

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Ken Caminiti San Diego 2 for 5, 6 RBIs, 2 home runs Win M. Alexander New York 3 for 5, 2 RBIs, triple, home run Win Craig Biggio Houston 4 for 4, 3 RBIs, 2 doubles, 2 singles Win Larry Walker Colorado 3 for 4, 3 RBIs, 26th homer, batting .401 Loss

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PITCHING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Darryl Kile Houston 9 innings, 6 hits, 0 runs, 7 strikeouts Win Alan Benes St. Louis 8 innings, 5 hits, 2 runs, 6 strikeouts Win

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