Piazza Powers Mets to Win Over Astros

Three days of rest didn’t slow down Mike Piazza.

Piazza, showing no sign of an injured knee, went four for four and drove in four runs, and Robin Ventura also had four RBIs as the New York Mets routed the Houston Astros, 10-3, Thursday at Houston to complete a 5-2 trip.

“I felt good,” Piazza said. “I had to make sure when I came back I was ready to go full throttle. I stayed relaxed and it didn’t strain when I ran.”

Piazza, who mildly sprained his left knee Saturday, sat out three games because of the injury, then homered and went two for five Wednesday in the Mets’ 12-5 victory.

On Thursday, he had RBI singles in the first and fifth innings, a double in the third and a two-run single in the eighth.

Bobby J. Jones (7-5) won his third consecutive start, giving up two runs and 10 hits in eight innings.

Ventura went two for five, including a two-run double in the three-run seventh. Jay Payton homered and had an RBI single.

New York closed within 2 1/2 games of NL East-leading Atlanta, the closest the Mets have been to first since July 2.

Jeff Bagwell homered twice, the 20th multihomer game of his career and second this season. He is the first Houston player to hit 30 homers in five consecutive seasons.

St. Louis 5, Colorado 4--After stranding five runners in two early at-bats, Jim Edmonds doubled home the winning run with two out in the ninth at St. Louis.

Edmonds struck out with the bases loaded, ending the second, and fanned again with runners on first and second, finishing the fourth.

The Cardinals, the NL Central leader, completed a 3-4 homestand in which they scored only 19 runs.

Todd Helton was four for four for the Rockies to raise his league-leading average to .384.

Shawon Dunston singled off Jose Jimenez (5-2) with two out in the ninth and Edmonds doubled to the gap in left-center.

San Diego 15, Philadelphia 3--Bret Boone and Phil Nevin each hit three-run homers at Philadelphia as the Padres set season highs for hits and runs.

Former Phillie Desi Relaford and Joe Vitiello also homered for the Padres, who have won nine of their last 12 games. San Diego got 19 hits, including nine for extra bases, and split the four-game series.