Despite Long Delay, Mets Defeat Braves

Not even a power failure could short-circuit the New York Mets.

Rick Reed shut down Atlanta over 6 1/3 innings and also had a run scoring single during a three-run sixth as the streaking Mets closed to within two games of the Braves in the East with a 10-2 victory Friday night at Atlanta.

The start of the game was delayed 45 minutes when a problem in the electrical system knocked out a section of field lights. When the lights finally came back on, the Mets picked up where they left off.

New York is the hottest team in baseball over the past 2 1/2 weeks, winning 15 of 18 games to threaten Atlanta. Despite winning seven of 10, the Braves have lost two games in the standings during that span.

San Diego 10, Colorado 1--Brian Boehringer pitched seven shutout innings at San Diego in his longest career start to help the Padres to their seventh consecutive victory.

The Padres, coming off three-game sweeps of Pittsburgh and the Dodgers, have their longest winning streak since tying a club record with 11 in a row last June 7-19.

Boehringer (4-1), a converted reliever, gave up four hits with four strikeouts and one walk in his 11th career start and fourth of the season. He exceeded his previous best of five innings in a start and matched his longest stint of seven innings in relief.

The Padres gave Boehringer an 8-0 lead with a six-run fifth inning, when they chased Brian Bohanon (9-4). Eric Owens hit a two-run double and Wally Joyner had a two-run triple.

Cincinnati 10, Houston 7--Michael Tucker homered, tripled and drove in four runs to lead the Reds at Houston for their fifth consecutive victory.

Tucker, celebrating his 28th birthday, scored three times as the Reds closed within two games of the first-place Astros in the Central Division. Houston has lost three in a row and five of six.

Pittsburgh 5, Milwaukee 3--Jason Kendall had two hits and stole his 20th base to lead the Pirates at Milwaukee as they won for only the second time in seven games.

Jason Schmidt (7-5) went seven-plus innings for the victory, giving up three runs and 10 hits.

Philadelphia 3, Chicago 2--Mike Lieberthal hit a two-run homer and Chad Ogea ended a personal three-game losing streak in the Phillies’ victory at Chicago. Lieberthal hit his 16th homer as the Phillies handed the Cubs their 12th loss in 15 games.

Ogea (4-6) held the Cubs to one run, three hits and four walks over eight innings. It was the first time Ogea has pitched beyond the seventh in 16 starts this season.

Montreal 4, Florida 3--Carl Pavano gave up five hits over eight innings and Chris Widger drove in two runs at Montreal as the Expos handed the Marlins their 10th consecutive defeat.

Pavano (6-6) gave up three hits in the third, including a three-run homer to Alex Gonzalez. But he gave up only two other hits to win for the sixth time since opening the season with an 0-4 record.