Mets’ Franco Has a Tough Go

After John Franco turned a two-run, ninth-inning lead into a one-run loss, New York Mets fans turned on Franco.

Todd Dunwoody hit a two-run single and Edgar Renteria hit a sacrifice fly as the Florida Marlins rallied for three runs and dealt New York a harsh 7-6 defeat Friday at New York.

After the Cubs lost earlier in the day, the Mets knew they had a chance to tie Chicago for the NL wild-card lead.

But Franco (0-8) could not close out the win and he was booed by the home fans as he walked to the Mets dugout.

Houston 5, Pittsburgh 2--Randy Johnson took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before giving up four hits in beating the Pirates at Pittsburgh.

Johnson (9-1) has won six consecutive decisions and has a 9-1 record since the July 31 trade from Seattle. He struck out 12 over 7 1/3 innings--he has 40 strikeouts in his three starts against Pittsburgh--and didn’t come close to giving up a hit until Kevin Polcovich and Jason Kendall singled to start the seventh.

Colorado 4, San Diego 1--Vinny Castilla hit his 44th and 45th homers and drove in three runs, and Andy Ashby failed for the sixth consecutive start to win his 17th game in the Rockies’ win at San Diego.

Colorado’s Pedro Astacio (13-14) gave up six hits in 8 1/3 innings as the Padres lost their fourth in a row for the first time this season. San Diego has dropped five of six since clinching the NL West.

Arizona 5, Atlanta 0--Andy Benes outpitched Greg Maddux after nearly pitching a no-hitter five days earlier, and the Diamondbacks won at Phoenix.

Benes (14-13) gave up only three hits in eight innings to deny the Braves their 100th victory of the season. Maddux, 17-9 but 0-3 in his last five starts, struck out nine but gave up 10 hits and five runs, four of them earned, in 6 1/3 innings.

Montreal 11, Philadelphia 4--Orlando Cabrera had a career-high four hits, including three doubles, and Brad Fullmer hit a three-run homer for the Expos at Philadelphia.