Mantei Overpowers the Cardinals

Matt Mantei, the Arizona Diamondback closer, struck out the three of the last four batters, hitting 100 mph on the team’s radar gun on the final pitch to Mike Matheny, to preserve a 1-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday at St. Louis.

Rookie reliever Oscar Villarreal (1-0) pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings after starter Miguel Batista was ejected and David Dellucci hit a run-scoring double in the fifth inning.

The defending National League West-champion Diamondbacks took two of three for their first series win this season and are 7-12. Before the series, they had lost five consecutive regular-season games to the Cardinals, who also swept them in the first round of the playoffs last fall.

“We know we’re going to lose ballgames from time to time,” Manager Bob Brenly said. “But if you can win series and move along at the end of the year, you’ll be right where you want to be.”

The Cardinals put runners on first and second with nobody out in the ninth, but Mantei recovered to strike out Scott Rolen and Miguel Cairo. After hitting J.D. Drew with a pitch, Mantei struck out Matheny to earn his second save.

Batista and Cardinal first baseman Tino Martinez were ejected after their fight precipitated a bench-clearing brawl in the fifth inning.

Batista hit Martinez in the right shoulder blade on a 1-and-0 pitch to start the inning and the two jawed at each other while Martinez slowly made his way to first, finally deciding not to charge the mound.

Martinez was forced at second on Drew’s groundout and was trotting off the field before he suddenly made a right turn to attack Batista.

As Martinez threw a punch, Batista threw the ball at him but missed. Both benches quickly cleared.

Batista, backpedaling throughout the brawl, was herded into left field by Brenly.

Atlanta 8, Philadelphia 1 -- Shane Reynolds, who began the season without a job, gave up two hits in 7 1/3 innings at Atlanta to win for the first time since May 12.

Reynolds (1-0), who was released by Houston at the end of spring training, didn’t give up a hit until the fifth inning and came out after giving up a run-scoring double to Tyler Houston in the eighth.

The first four Braves reached base, with Andruw Jones’ single driving in two runs. Johnny Estrada drove in a run with a groundout and Vinny Castilla made it 4-0 with a triple.

Colorado 8, San Diego 0 -- Shawn Chacon and two relievers combined for the 21st shutout in Coors Field history.

Jay Payton homered and drove in three runs. The Rockies improved to 8-1 at home and swept a three-game series for the second time this season. The Padres have lost five in a row since taking two of three against Colorado on April 11-13.

Chacon (3-0) gave up two hits over the first five innings and struck out Sean Burroughs to end the sixth after the Padres loaded the bases. He gave up four hits and struck out six in seven innings.

Milwaukee 5, Houston 4 -- Curtis Leskanic, a 35-year-old right-hander coming back from right shoulder surgery in October 2001, pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings of one-hit relief at Milwaukee to get the victory, his first since May 15, 2001, at Philadelphia.

He walked two batters in the eighth inning, and Luis Vizcaino relieved and walked his first batter, Richard Hidalgo. With the bases loaded and two out, Vizcaino struck out pinch-hitter Jose Vizcaino.

Mike DeJean pitched the ninth for his fourth save. The crowd of 10,125 was the smallest at Miller Park, which opened in April 2001.

New York 7, Florida 4 -- One day after closer Armando Benitez blew his fourth save this season in a 6-5 loss, the Mets rallied to beat the Marlins at Shea Stadium with their biggest inning this season -- a five-run seventh.

The Mets had a league-low .228 average and were tied with Pittsburgh for the second fewest runs in the NL. But they matched their season high in runs and found a way to keep Benitez off the mound -- by taking a four-run lead into the ninth.

Cincinnati 7, Montreal 5 -- Pinch-hitter Adam Dunn and Felipe Lopez hit consecutive home runs in the ninth inning and the Reds hit six in all to end a losing streak at five.

Aaron Boone homered twice, Austin Kearns hit his major league-leading ninth and Jose Guillen also homered for the Reds at San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The Expos, who were attempting to finish their 10-game stand at San Juan with a sweep, went 6-4 and are in first place in the NL East.