Mets Could Use Heavy Dose of Starts by Leiter

At least the New York Mets can rely on one thing this season--winning when Al Leiter is on the mound.

Leiter pitched eight strong innings Wednesday night and the Mets remained unbeaten in his eight starts, ending the Colorado Rockies’ season-high winning streak at four games with a 4-2 victory at New York.

“There’s a certain aggressive behavior a pitcher has to have in a tight game,” Leiter said. “You can’t give in to the hitter.”

Leiter (5-0) gave up five hits and matched his season-high with nine strikeouts, giving him 26 in his last three starts. He has won four consecutive starts, beginning with a 14-11 victory over the Rockies on April 30 at Denver. Last year, he didn’t pick up his fifth victory until June 17.

“The game at this level is mental, and when you make a contribution to your team’s winning, you have to feel good,” Leiter said. “I honestly believe every pitcher should feel like an ace. If not, you shouldn’t be a big league starter.”

Met Manager Bobby Valentine is thankful for Leiter’s ace-like performances.

“You can give him any nickname you want, he’s pitched the best and is the most consistent New York Met pitcher, a good one,” Valentine said.

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Montreal 10, Arizona 2--Vladimir Guerrero and Peter Bergeron homered and Jose Vidro hit three consecutive doubles for the Expos at Montreal.

The loss assured the Diamondbacks of their first road series loss since last July. They had gone 16-0-1 in their last 17 road series.

In winning their third in a row, the Expos scored in each of the first five innings and Vidro matched a team record for doubles.

Carl Pavano (4-1) gave up four hits through eight innings. He gave up Steve Finley’s 14th homer leading off the second inning and Tony Womack’s fourth homer with two out in the eighth.

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Pittsburgh 9, Cincinnati 6--Kevin Young put the Pirates ahead with a bases-loaded single in the seventh inning, and Mike Benjamin later added a two-run homer at Cincinnati.

The Reds, who had converted their previous 10 save opportunities, lost for only the second time in 10 games because of a rare meltdown by their bullpen.

After Denny Neagle put himself in position to get his 11th consecutive victory, the Pirates sent eight batters to the plate for three runs in the seventh and a 6-4 lead.

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Florida 4, San Diego 2--Ryan Dempster won his fourth consecutive start and Brant Brown hit a two-run homer for the Marlins at Miami.

Luis Castillo had a career-high four stolen bases for Florida, and went two for two with three walks.

Dempster (5-2), unbeaten since an April 15 loss to the Chicago Cubs, gave up two runs and seven hits in 7 2/3 innings in sending San Diego to its ninth loss in 11 games. Antonio Alfonseca pitched the ninth inning for his major-league leading 14th save in 15 chances. He retired three consecutive batters after Bret Boone’s leadoff triple.

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Atlanta 5, San Francisco 4--Kevin Millwood pitched seven strong innings and Rudy Seanez escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth at Atlanta. Atlanta built a 5-0 lead en route to its fifth win in a row. San Francisco rallied with a run in the seventh and three more in the eighth. Seanez thwarted the comeback attempt by getting three outs on two pitches after replacing Millwood with the bases loaded and the Braves clinging to a 5-3 lead.

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Philadelphia 5, St. Louis 4--Ron Gant hit a three-run homer and Scott Rolen hit two solo shots at Philadelphia to help the Phillies end a four-game losing streak.

Rolen’s homer in the seventh against reliever Heathcliff Slocumb (1-3) came after the Cardinals had tied the score at 4-4 in the top of the inning.

Rolen also homered in the fifth, giving the Phillies a 4-2 lead and capping a four-run inning.

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Houston vs. Milwaukee, ppd.--The Astros and Brewers were rained out at Milwaukee and will make up the game today as part of a doubleheader.