Valentine Manages a Sweep

Bobby Valentine and Don Baylor picked up where they left off earlier in the season at Japan. So did the New York Mets.

After the two managers had a heated discussion as they exchanged lineups before the first game Saturday at New York, the Mets swept the Chicago Cubs, 8-3 and 7-6.

The conflict between the two managers started last month in Japan when Valentine protested the season opener because Jeff Huson’s name wasn’t on the lineup card. He eventually dropped the protest.

But Baylor then implied that Valentine was a cheater and that there could be a fight between the two if they met again. He also wouldn’t shake Valentine’s hand before the second game in Japan.

Earlier this week, Baylor said he’d be “surprised” if Valentine took the lineup card out before Saturday’s game. Valentine had never taken the lineup card out in his first 534 games with New York.

But he was at home plate before the game.

“My players talked me into doing it, because they had read so much about it in the papers,” Valentine said.

After the umpires went over the ground rules, Valentine and Baylor started an animated conversation.

At one point, the imposing Baylor took two steps toward Valentine. The managers went back to their respective dugouts without shaking hands.

Atlanta 4, Pittsburgh 2--Andruw Jones hit a home run, Bruce Chen pitched three scoreless innings in relief and the Braves won their sixth consecutive game with a victory at Atlanta.

John Rocker, coming on to another standing ovation, struck out the side in the ninth for his second save. After giving up a two-out single to Pat Meares, he struck out Brian Giles on a checked-swing.

Milwaukee 7, Montreal 3--Geoff Jenkins hit a home run for the second consecutive game and added a two-run double as the Brewers ended a five-game losing streak with the victory at Montreal. Everett Stull got his first major league victory, giving up two runs and nine hits in five-plus innings. He gave up consecutive homers to Lee Stevens and Chris Widger leading off the fourth.

Florida 4, Philadelphia 2--Jesus Sanchez was two for two with a run batted in and pitched into the seventh at Miami as the Marlins ended their six-game losing streak against the Phillies.

Sanchez gave up two runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings, struck out four, walked two and hit two batters.

San Francisco 8, Arizona 6--Barry Bonds hit his 452nd home run and tied Carl Yastrzemski for 21st place on the career list as the Giants won at Phoenix.

Bonds hit his seventh home run of the season. Arizona’s Steve Finley also hit his seventh.

San Diego 8, Houston 6--Carlos Hernandez, activated earlier in the day, hit a two-run double with two out in the 10th inning to lead the Padres at Houston.

Phil Nevin, who was three for five, singled against Yorkis Perez opening the 10th.

Eric Owen walked with two out and Hernandez, who strained his right groin April 6, doubled into the gap in left-center.