Daal Avoids the Loss as Phillies Top Mets

Brian Kingman should watch Omar Daal pitch more often.

Daal gave up one run over six innings as he avoided becoming the first 20-game loser in 20 years, and Pat Burrell drove in the winning run with a bases-loaded single in the ninth as the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the New York Mets, 6-5, Thursday night at Philadelphia.

“He didn’t want to see me lose, so that’s good,” Daal said of Kingman, who was 8-20 for Oakland in 1980 and flew in from California to watch. “He brought me good luck.”

Travis Lee hit his first homer as a Phillie and Bobby Abreu also homered for Philadelphia, which wasted a 5-1 lead, then recovered to defeat the Mets for the seventh time in 10 games this season.

Daal remained 3-19.

Houston 7, St. Louis 5--A day after the Cardinals clinched the NL Central, rookie Tony McKnight gave up two earned runs in 6 2/3 innings for the Astros at St. Louis.

Montreal 10, Florida 3--Vladimir Guerrero set an Expo record with his 43rd home run and Orlando Cabrera matched his career high with five RBIs as Montreal defeated the visiting Marlins.

Colorado 13, San Diego 4--Kevin Jarvis (3-4) gave up one hit in six innings and retired his final 18 batters as the Rockies beat the Padres at Denver.

Milwaukee 12, Pittsburgh 2--Geoff Jenkins homered for the third consecutive game as the Brewers defeated the Pirates at Milwaukee.