Mets Inch Ahead in Wild-Card Bid

It took a shutout and a hitting record by one player to do it, but the New York Mets are back on top in the NL wild-card race, ahead of the Chicago Cubs by one game.

John Olerud homered and doubled, giving him a team record-tying nine consecutive hits, and Al Leiter pitched the Mets past the Florida Marlins, 5-0, Sunday at New York.

Leiter (17-5) won his fifth consecutive decision and set a career high for victories. He gave up five hits and struck out nine in eight innings.

Atlanta 10, Arizona 0--Bruce Chen pitched seven shutout innings in his third major league start as the Braves blanked the Diamondbacks for the third time in four games at Arizona.

Andres Galarraga continued to hit well against Amaury Telemaco (6-10), going two for two with a triple, double and a sacrifice fly. Galarraga is six for 13 (.461) with three homers lifetime against Telemaco.

Colorado 1, San Diego 0--Darryl Hamilton’s run-scoring single in the 11th inning made a winner of Darryl Kile and the Rockies at San Diego.

Kile (13-16) gave up only three hits in 10 scoreless innings in outlasting Kevin Brown, who threw nine scoreless innings and allowed only four hits.

Houston 2, Pittsburgh 0--Richard Hidalgo had his second two-homer game against the Pirates in three weeks and Shane Reynolds pitched seven shutout innings at Pittsburgh.

The victory was the 99th for the NL Central champion Astros. They need one win for their first 100-win season since beginning play in 1962.

Philadelphia 6, Montreal 3--Paul Byrd pitched 6 1/3 strong innings and Wendell Magee Jr. had a key two-run single at Philadelphia.

Byrd (5-2) tied a season high with seven strikeouts in his third consecutive victory. He retired the first 10 Expo batters and gave up five hits.