Mets Catch Cubs With Victory Over Marlins

In 20 hours, John Franco went from Public Enemy No. 1 to Toast of the Town.

The way he danced off the mound, you’d think he just saved the final game of the World Series.

He didn’t do quite that Saturday at New York, but he found redemption. A day after blowing a two-run lead in the ninth, Franco held on--barely--as the New York Mets defeated the Florida Marlins, 4-3, to pull even with the Chicago Cubs for the National League wild-card lead.

“Not bad for an old guy,” he said.

Bases loaded. Two out in the ninth. One-run lead. Three-two pitch. A crowd of 52,062 going crazy.

The margin for error couldn’t have been slimmer.

“People think that’s crazy. That’s our fun!” Met Manager Bobby Valentine said. “Other people do other things for entertainment. We play one-run games.”

Mike Redmond, one of the Marlins’ many rookies, struck out swinging on a 3-2 changeup in the dirt, giving the Mets their 35th one-run win, the most in the majors.

“If he had taken it,” Franco said, “it probably would have been ball four.”

The Cubs’ 7-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds ended in the sixth inning of the Mets’ game, so everyone in the ballpark knew the Mets had another chance to tie the Cubs. On Friday night, Franco failed to hold a 6-4 lead, turning it into a 7-6 loss.

“What do you say for a guy to throw that pitch? I really thought I was going to get a fastball,” Redmond said.

Said Franco, who shook off Mike Piazza when the catcher signaled for a fastball: “Most young hitters are aggressive.”

Atlanta 5, Arizona 0--With the victory at Phoenix, Tom Glavine became the first 20-game winner in the major leagues this season and the Braves became the first team in two decades to win 100 games in consecutive seasons.

Glavine (20-6) pitched a six-hitter with five strikeouts and one walk.

“I’ve been saying for six weeks that I wanted to win 20 games first, then work on the things to get some consideration for the Cy Young,” said Glavine, who reached 20 victories for the fourth time in his 11-season career.

“Winning 20 is every starting pitcher’s goal at the start of the year. I’m thrilled to do it and thrilled that it’s my fourth time doing it.”

Glavine got the 18th shutout of his career, his third this season, and his fourth complete game this year. The four 20-win seasons are the most by an Atlanta pitcher. Warren Spahn had 13 20-win seasons with the Boston and Milwaukee Braves.

The Braves, who finished 101-61 last season, improved to 100-56. The last team to post consecutive 100-victory seasons was the Philadelphia Phillies, who went 101-61 in both 1976 and 1977.

“To have the best record in the league, it means a lot,” said Atlanta Manager Bobby Cox, whose club leads the Houston Astros by two games for the best record in the National League. “I really believe that.”

Arizona, which left the bases loaded in the eighth when Devon White grounded out, has been shut out twice in three nights and a major league-high 15 times overall. Brian Anderson (12-13) gave up all five runs and 11 hits in 7 1/3 innings.

Philadelphia 4, Montreal 3--Kevin Sefcik’s run-scoring single in the eighth inning put the Phillies ahead to stay at Philadelphia.

Curt Schilling (15-14) gave up five hits, struck out nine and walked two in his major league-leading 15th complete game. He struck out the side in the ninth to increase his strikeout total to 293, the best in the NL.

“Every time I had two strikes, I was trying to get a strikeout,” Schilling said. “I know where I am. It’s big for me to get 300 strikeouts, and I have a chance to win 16 games, that’s important to me.”

Schilling is attempting to become the first pitcher with consecutive 300-strikeout seasons since J.R. Richard of the Astros in 1978-1979. He has pitched a career-high 260 2/3 innings, surpassing his total of 254 1/3 last year.

Mike Maddux (3-4) was the loser.

Derrick May homered for Montreal, and Bobby Abreu connected for Philadelphia.

Pittsburgh 7, Houston 1--Jose Guillen hit a three-run homer and doubled in two more runs at Pittsburgh as the Pirates won for the first time in eight games against the Astros.

Guillen, who also drove in five runs in a game last month against the Marlins, doubled against Jose Lima (15-8) in the fourth inning, and hit his 14th home run in the fifth. He has 83 runs batted in, 20 in his last 15 games.

Guillen’s double came after he fouled off two bunt attempts. With the Pirates trailing, 1-0, Manager Gene Lamont thought he needed to play the percentages. Guillen failed on the fundamental play, but more than made up for it by doubling to the left-field wall.

“I was looking for a good pitch to bunt, I just missed them,” Guillen said with a shrug.

Free to swing, he took advantage of Lima’s mistake.

“I never shake off my catcher, but I did that time,” Lima said. “He wanted a fastball and I shook him so I could throw a change-up. I think Guillen was looking for it. I made some mistakes and they cost me.”

Turner Ward also homered for the Pirates. Francisco Cordova (13-13) gave up eight hits and walked three in eight innings.