Leiter a Pitcher of Health in Return for Mets

Al Leiter, sidelined after injuring his left knee last month, did not miss a step in his return on Saturday.

Leiter pitched six strong innings in his first start since spending three weeks on the disabled list, and Mike Piazza homered twice as the New York Mets defeated the Philadelphia Phillies, 7-0, at New York.

“It was one of those fun games today,” said Leiter, who gave up two hits. “It wasn’t a battle.”

Leiter (10-4) went on the disabled list on June 27 after he partially tore a tendon in his left knee covering first base against the Yankees. In his return, he threw 103 pitches and struck out four.

“He threw 100 quality pitches and six strong innings. What more can you ask?” Mets Manager Bobby Valentine said. “He’s an inspiration to all of us. He’s a great team player.”

“I knew I wanted to get back to what I had worked on in spring training: changing speeds . . . and putting the ball in play versus striking the guy out,” Leiter said.

Greg McMichael and Dennis Cook finished off the three-hitter as the Mets recorded consecutive shutouts for the first time since May 1996 when they shut out San Francisco and San Diego.

The Phillies have been shut out five times this season, four by the Mets.

“Well, they’ve given us two real good pitching jobs in a row,” Philadelphia’s Desi Relaford said. “[Hideo] Nomo last night and Leiter today, not showing any effects of being out for a month. We thought we might get him early but he never gave us a chance.”

Piazza homered twice in a game for the third time this season, and for the first time since joining the Mets in late May. He hit a two-run shot in the first, solo shot in the sixth, and has 16 home runs for the season.

“Hitting is timing, when you swing well and you get a couple pitches to drive and you don’t miss,” Piazza said. “It’s so much easier said than done.”

Houston 7, San Francisco 2--Ricky Gutierrez and Derek Bell hit home runs and Sean Bergman pitched seven strong innings at Houston.

The Giants have lost seven of eight games since the All-Star break.

The Astros broke open the game by scoring four times in the eighth. Bell and Carl Everett had RBI doubles, Gutierrez had a sacrifice fly and also scored on a wild pitch.

In the fourth, San Francisco’s J.T. Snow hit a ball to the wall in center field that appeared to be a home run, but umpire Larry Vanover ruled the ball hit the fence and bounced back onto the field. Replays showed the ball fell into the flowers behind the fence--and then bounced back onto the field.

Milwaukee 7, Atlanta 1--Steve Woodard gave up only three hits in eight shutout innings and drove in two runs at Atlanta.

Woodard, a 23-year-old right-hander, was cheered on by a contingent of family and friends from his native Alabama. He retired the first 13 hitters before Ryan Klesko hit a ball to the gap in right-center. Klesko was thrown out at third trying to stretch the hit into a triple.

Mark Wohlers, making his second appearance since coming back from a miserable stint in the minors, worked the ninth for Atlanta and continued to struggle, giving up two runs on a walk and two doubles.

Pittsburgh 5, Montreal 2--Turner Ward and Kevin Young hit consecutive homers and Jon Lieber retired 19 consecutive batters at Montreal.

Lieber (7-10) pitched a five-hitter for his second complete game of the season. He gave up four hits in the first inning, but Montreal managed only Shane Andrews’ leadoff single in the eighth after that.

Lieber struck out four and walked none in the fourth complete game of his career. He matched his best for fewest hits allowed.

Florida 2, Chicago 1--Rookie Brian Meadows pitched seven strong innings and Todd Zeile homered at Miami.

Meadows (9-6) won his fifth consecutive decision. He allowed one run and six hits, striking out four and walking two.

Mark Clark (5-9) lost despite pitching a five-hitter. He struck out seven and walked none in his second consecutive complete game.

Zeile’s solo home run, his 11th, broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth.

Sammy Sosa had two hits but still has 36 home runs.

Arizona 4, Colorado 2--Brian Anderson earned his first home victory and Tony Batista homered at Phoenix.

Anderson (7-8), Arizona’s first selection in the expansion draft, gave up two runs on seven hits in seven innings to win for the first time in 10 home starts. The left-hander struck out four and walked none.