Lopez Starts and Helps Beat Padres

Luis Lopez took advantage of a rare start to help the New York Mets defeat the San Diego Padres, 7-6, on Wednesday night.

Lopez, making only his 10th start of the season as a replacement for injured shortstop Rey Ordonez, drove in two runs, including a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the seventh inning.

“That shows you what kind of team we have,” Lopez said. “Even the guys on the bench contribute a lot. When everyone contributes, that makes it a lot easier.”

Lopez hit a sacrifice fly off Donne Wall (4-3) in the seventh to score Carlos Baerga and break a 6-6 tie. Baerga singled with one out and advanced to third on a single by Bernard Gilkey.

Lopez received a standing ovation in the top of the fourth after going behind the bag at second to stop a grounder by Chris Gomez and throwing him out at first.

New York has won eight of its last 10 games. The Padres lost for only the third time in their last 10 road games.

Mel Rojas (4-2) got the victory by pitching two-thirds of an inning in relief. John Franco pitched 1 1/3 innings for his 21st save.

Met starter Al Leiter went 6 1/3 innings, giving up four runs and eight hits. San Diego starter Joey Hamilton gave up six runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings.

The Padres scored four runs in the seventh to tie the the score at 6-6.

After giving up singles to Andy Sheets and Tony Gwynn, Leiter was lifted with one out and replaced by Greg McMichael.

McMichael gave up an RBI single to Greg Vaughn and then walked Jim Leyritz to load the bases. Rojas relieved and walked Wally Joyner to force in a run. After getting pinch-hitter Steve Finley to fly out, he gave up a two-run double to pinch-hitter Greg Myers before retiring Mark Sweeney to end the inning.