Hampton Shows No Side Effects Against Arizona

The New York Mets’ Mike Hampton is OK, and now Atlanta is beginning to feel the pain.

Hampton showed no ill effects from the cracked rib that sidelined him, pitching eight sharp innings for the Mets, who beat Arizona, 2-1, Sunday at New York.

“It’s not 100%, I could tell that. But I could handle it,” Hampton said. “I felt comfortable for the most part.”

New York increased its wild-card lead over the Diamondbacks to 5 1/2 games, scoring the tiebreaking run in the seventh inning on Todd Zeile’s RBI grounder.

But more important, the Mets closed to within a game of the Atlanta Braves for the lead in the East.

While Hampton (13-7) tamed the Diamondbacks on three hits in his first game since Aug. 17, Arizona’s Steve Finley turned in the play of the day on a ball hit by Robin Ventura, leaping at the fence to take away a homer.

St. Louis 7, Atlanta 2--Darryl Kile pitched an eight-hitter and the Central-leading Cardinals scored three runs in the seventh and eighth innings to win at Atlanta.

Kile (15-9) needed only 102 pitches for his fourth complete game of the season.

Colorado 9, Pittsburgh 2--Todd Helton homered and doubled to raise his batting average to .394, and Brian Bohanon backed his own effective pitching with a two-run double for the Rockies at Pittsburgh.

Bohanon (8-9) gave up four singles in his first complete game since Sept. 3.

San Diego 2, Milwaukee 1--Ryan Klesko’s run-scoring single in the eighth inning lifted the Padres at Milwaukee.

Pinch-hitter John Mabry walked with one out and advanced to second on Eric Owens’ single. Desi Relaford followed with an RBI single to left to tie the score, 1-1. Klesko’s single scored Owens.

Houston 7, Montreal 3--Tony Eusebio doubled twice and hit his seventh homer to extend his hitting streak to 23 games and lead the Astros to a win at Montreal.

Scott Elarton (15-4) gave up six hits in pitching the second complete game of his career.

Florida 7, Cincinnati 6--Mike Lowell homered with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning for the Marlins at Miami.