Leyritz Takes One for Padres in 3-1 Victory

Carlos Hernandez had the big hit Thursday night. He got a chance because Jim Leyritz got hit.

Hernandez doubled to the gap in left-center on a full-count fastball with two out in the 10th inning at Shea Stadium, giving the San Diego Padres a 3-1 victory over the New York Mets to avoid being swept for the first time in 47 series.

Leyritz got the rally going by sticking his elbow brace out and getting hit by a pitch.

“Eventually they’re going to have a rule about wearing this armor,” Met Manager Bobby Valentine said. “I think it’s absolutely ridiculous. He’s not getting out of the way. He’s not going to get hurt.”

Chris Gomez then singled with two outs and Hernandez doubled to the gap.

“You get the count to 3-2, you’ve got to throw the best pitch you can, so I was looking for the fastball,” Hernandez said.

San Diego won for the 11th time in 14 games.

Dan Miceli (8-4) pitched a hitless ninth in relief of Sterling Hitchcock for the win, striking out two. Trevor Hoffman worked the 10th for his 34th save.

Atlanta 13, Cincinnati 3--Gerald Williams and Andruw Jones each homered and drove in three runs in a balanced attack that carried that Braves over the Reds at Cincinnati.

Denny Neagle (11-9) gave up five hits in eight innings as the Braves took three of four in the series and completed a 7-2 trip.

The Reds lost for the 12th time in 14 games and lost two players to injury. Infielder Pokey Reese tore a ligament in his right thumb and will require surgery. Second baseman Bret Boone sprained his left ankle in the seventh and left the game.

Florida 4, Houston 3--Livan Hernandez pitched a four-hitter and Cliff Floyd hit a three-run homer as the Marlins avoided a sweep at Houston with a victory.

The Astros won the first three games of the series, but the Marlins came back to end a four-game losing streak and finish their trip 2-8.

Floyd gave the Marlins a 3-0 lead with his home run in the first inning off Shane Reynolds (12-7). Edgar Renteria singled with one out and Todd Zeile walked with two outs before Floyd’s 15th homer.

Hernandez (9-7) struck out seven and walked two in his sixth complete game.

Arizona 4, Chicago 0--Omar Daal threw a four-hitter, the first complete game shutout in Diamondbacks’ history and the first of Daal’s career, as the Diamondbacks defeated the Cubs to split a four-game series.

Devon White drove in two runs with a home run and two singles batting out of the cleanup spot.

Daal (5-5), a 26-year-old left-hander, struck out seven and walked three in his second complete game and fifth by Diamondbacks’ pitcher.

Sammy Sosa went one for three with an infield single for the Cubs.

St. Louis 3, Milwaukee 2--Pat Kelly maintained his hot hitting while batting out of the ninth spot, driving in two runs as the Cardinals ended the Brewers’ four-game winning streak at St. Louis.

Kelly, who has batted ninth in 10 games since being acquired from Toronto on July 16, is hitting .302 in 13 games since the trade. He has reached base safely seven times and drove in three runs in his last three games.

Mark McGwire failed to hit a home run for the second consecutive game. He was 0 for three with a strikeout and his major league-leading 111th walk.

Montreal 12, San Francisco 6--Vladimir Guerrero homered for the second consecutive game and for a team-record 11th time in July to lead the Expos over the Giants at Montreal.

Guerrero drove the first pitch he saw from Mark Gardner (8-5) leading off the fourth over the wall in center for his 25th home run. Guerrero has hit six homers in his last eight games.