Milestone Night for Piazza, Mets

Mike Piazza hit a grand slam to surpass 1,000 runs batted in, and Edgardo Alfonzo started a triple play as the New York Mets routed the bumbling San Diego Padres, 13-4, Friday night at San Diego.

Piazza’s 13th career slam, and first since July 18, 2000, highlighted an eight-run seventh inning and sent the Mets to their highest total this year. It was New York’s fourth consecutive victory since dropping eight of nine.

The Padres, who led the majors in errors each of the last two seasons, committed a season-high five, three by shortstop Deivi Cruz.

New York led the majors with 43 errors coming in, but looked sharp in turning the triple play, from third baseman Alfonzo to second baseman Roberto Alomar to first baseman Mo Vaughn in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Alfonzo also had three hits.

With runners on first and second in the bottom of the fifth, Wiki Gonzalez hit a sharp grounder to Alfonzo, who took two steps to the bag to force Cruz.

Alfonzo threw to Alomar to force Sean Burroughs, and Alomar completed the triple play by throwing to Vaughn. Gonzalez didn’t appear to be running full speed until about two-thirds of the way to first, when he suddenly picked up the pace, but it was too late.

It was the ninth triple play in Met history, and the first since Aug. 5, 1998, against San Francisco.

San Francisco 9, Florida 3--Former Dodger Tom Goodwin hit a pinch-hit tiebreaking two-run single in the seventh inning and Tsuyoshi Shinjo had a grand slam in the eighth as the Giants won at San Francisco.

With two out and the bases loaded in the eighth, Braden Looper walked Reggie Sanders, putting the Giants ahead 5-2, and Shinjo followed with his first major league slam.

Atlanta 4, Colorado 2--Tom Glavine pitched into the seventh inning and hit an RBI single, and Wes Helms homered to lead the Braves to a victory at Denver.

Glavine (6-2) gave up two runs--one earned--and six hits in 62/3 innings for his 230th victory, moving past Luis Tiant and Sam Jones for 53rd on the career list. Charlie Buffington is next with 231 victories.

St. Louis 3, Cincinnati 1--Darryl Kile gave up two hits in seven innings as the Cardinals extended their winning streak to five by defeating the Reds at St. Louis.

Fernando Vina’s sacrifice fly off Scott Sullivan (3-1) broke a seventh-inning tie for the Cardinals, who ended Cincinnati’s four-game winning streak.

Milwaukee 6, Chicago 2--Glendon Rusch pitched seven strong innings, and rookie Alex Sanchez hit a bases-loaded triple at Milwaukee in the Brewer victory.

Rusch (3-3) gave up two runs and six hits and improved to 5-1 lifetime against the Cubs. He also defeated Chicago at Wrigley Field last week.

Houston 7, Pittsburgh 4--Jeff Bagwell hit a three-run homer at Houston, and the Astros extended their winning streak to a season-high six games.

Trailing 4-2 in the sixth, Bagwell connected off Ron Villone (2-5) for his ninth home run of the season.