Piazza, Mets Get a Dramatic Win

Mike Piazza lined a three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning and pinch-hitter Todd Hundley won it with a solo homer in the 11th as the New York Mets pulled out another dramatic victory, 4-3, over the Houston Astros on Wednesday night at Houston.

With two out in the ninth, Piazza hit a 2-2 pitch from closer Billy Wagner into the seats in right-center, giving New York a 3-2 lead.

But Brad Ausmus homered against Dennis Cook with one out in the bottom half to send the game to extra innings.

In the 11th, Hundley smacked a 2-1 pitch from Sean Bergman (12-9) over the center-field fence.

New York remained half a game behind the Chicago Cubs in the NL wild-card race.

Atlanta 5, Philadelphia 1--John Smoltz, tuning up for the postseason, pitched six shutout innings and Eddie Perez hit a two-run homer as the Braves maintained the best record in the National League with the victory at Atlanta.

Smoltz (16-3) gave up only three hits before turning over the big lead to the bullpen.

San Francisco 6, Arizona 5--Barry Bonds hit an RBI triple and scored on Jeff Kent’s single in the 10th inning at Phoenix as the Giants salvaged a victory over the Diamondbacks.

For the second night in a row, the Giants blew a big lead and the game went into extra innings. This time, though, San Francisco pulled it out.

Bill Mueller was four for five with two doubles as the Giants avoided a three-game sweep.

Milwaukee 2, Cincinnati 0--Bill Pulsipher and four relievers combined on a five-hitter as the Brewers won at Cincinnati.

Pulsipher (3-2) gave up five hits in six innings, struck out three and walked two. Chad Fox, Mike Myers, Eric Plunk and Bob Wickman finished Milwaukee’s second shutout this season.

Montreal 3, Florida 2--The Expos rallied for two runs in the ninth inning on pinch-hit RBIs by Robert Perez and Jose Vidro at Montreal.