Emotional Hampton Shuts Out Mets

The New York Mets desperately wanted to re-sign Mike Hampton in the off-season. On Wednesday night, they were reminded why.

Hampton, who left the Mets and signed an eight-year, $121-million contract with the Colorado Rockies, tormented his former team, throwing a seven-hit shutout in the Rockies’ 6-0 victory at Denver.

It was the eighth shutout for Hampton (5-0), the most valuable player of the National League championship series last October.

The left-hander, who went 15-10 in helping lead the Mets reach the World Series last year, struck out five, walked three and was backed by four double plays.

“It was an emotional game,” Hampton admitted. “It’s tough facing the team that you went to the World Series with last year.

“I was a little hyped up early, but I was able to make a big pitch here and there to get me out of a couple of jams. And the defense picked me up and made some great plays behind me.”

Hampton helped his cause with two hits, including a run-scoring infield single in the second.

He also had a two-out single ahead of Todd Walker’s three-run homer against Rick Reed (4-2) in the seventh. Larry Walker had a solo homer in the sixth, his 12th of the season but first since April 24.

Reed went seven innings, giving up 10 hits and six runs with no walks and five strikeouts.

Hampton, who pitched for the Houston Astros from 1994-99, improved to 5-0 over his last eight starts against the Mets, with three shutouts. He hasn’t lost to the Mets since July 14, 1996.

Hampton lowered his earned-run average to 2.34 this season. At Coors Field, he is 3-0 with a 2.30 ERA.

Montreal 8, San Francisco 0--Lee Stevens and Vladimir Guerrero homered on consecutive pitches in the third inning at San Francisco to help the Expos end a six-game losing streak.

Javier Vazquez (3-4) gave up five hits in seven innings as the Expos won for the first time in eight games against the Giants dating to May 23.

Vazquez struck out seven, including Barry Bonds three times, and walked two in stopping a personal three-game slide. Guillermo Mota and Scott Strickland finished the shutout, the first against the Giants at Pac Bell Park in 99 games, with an inning each.

Atlanta 3, San Diego 0--Former Padre Quilvio Veras homered and John Burkett pitched seven shutout innings at San Diego to help the Braves end the Padres’ winning streak at five.

Tony Gwynn left the game with cramping in his right hamstring, one day after coming off the disabled list. Gwynn, who turned 41 on Wednesday, went 0 for 2 before being replaced by pinch-hitter Bubba Trammell in the fifth inning.

Gwynn was activated Tuesday after being sidelined 15 games because of a hamstring injury. The Padres’ outfielder will be reevaluated today.

St. Louis 6, Pittsburgh 2--Dustin Hermanson pitched six strong innings and the Cardinals slowed the Pirates’ hitters for the third consecutive game at St. Louis.

The Cardinals have outscored the Pirates, 21-4, and held them to 13 hits the first three games of a four-game series. They’ll go for the sweep today with left-hander Rick Ankiel pitching.

Ray Lankford homered and drove in three runs for the Cardinals, who are two games above .500 for only the second time this season.

Houston 7, Philadelphia 6--Ricky Bottalico’s wild throw allowed Glenn Barker to score the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning at Houston.

With the score tied at 6-6, Moises Alou and Lance Berkman both walked against Bottalico (1-2) with no outs in the ninth.

Chris Truby attempted to bunt the runners over, and Bottalico fielded the ball and threw to third in a bid to erase Barker, who was pinch-running for Alou. The throw was wild, and third baseman Scott Rolen was unable to stop it from going down the left-field line as Barker scored.

Chicago 6, Milwaukee 3--Sammy Sosa and Matt Stairs hit home runs and Cub relievers combined for four perfect innings at Milwaukee.

Sosa connected for his 11th homer of the season. It was his 397th home run, moving him ahead of Joe Carter for 35th place on the all-time list.

Stairs, acquired from the Oakland Athletics in a trade last November, hit his first home run for the Cubs.

Kevin Tapani (5-1) gave up six hits in five innings.

Arizona 5, Cincinnati 2--David Dellucci hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning to lift the Diamondbacks at Phoenix.

It was Dellucci’s second pinch-hit homer and Arizona’s seventh pinch-hit homer of the season.

Mark Grace homered and doubled as Arizona took a home series from the Reds for the first time in the Diamondbacks’ four-year history.

Reggie Sanders doubled twice and drove in a run for the Diamondbacks, who handed the Reds their second loss in the three-game series and their seventh in eight games.