Martinez Delivers Mets’ First Win
Pedro Martinez pitched a two-hitter and the visiting New York Mets finally got their first win of the season Sunday, overcoming John Smoltz’s 15 strikeouts in a 6-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves.
Carlos Beltran hit a go-ahead homer off Smoltz in the eighth, and Cliff Floyd and David Wright connected later in the inning to send Willie Randolph to his first victory as a manager.
Martinez (1-0) retired his last 16 batters, struck out nine and walked only one. After the bullpen cost him a win on opening day in Cincinnati, the Mets’ new ace finished this one himself for his 43rd career complete game and fourth two-hitter.
Smoltz (0-2) tied his Atlanta record for strikeouts and led 1-0 through seven innings. But Jose Reyes led off the eighth with a single and moved up on Miguel Cairo’s sacrifice before Beltran drove a 2-1 pitch over the right-field fence, chasing Smoltz.
Houston 5, Cincinnati 2 -- Jeff Bagwell hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer, and Roy Oswalt pitched seven strong innings at Houston to lead the Astros to their fourth win in a row.
Craig Biggio and Morgan Ensberg also homered for the Astros, who won their series-record 11th consecutive game -- eight last season -- against Cincinnati. Houston won 10 in a row against their longtime division rival in 2003.
Florida 8, Washington 0 -- Josh Beckett pitched a five-hitter with 11 strikeouts for his second career shutout, and Juan Encarnacion hit his second grand slam in a week to help the Marlins win at Miami.
Beckett (2-0) walked one and retired 14 consecutive batters before Jose Vidro doubled in the ninth.
Pittsburgh 6, San Diego 3 -- Khalil Greene’s two-out throwing error in the fourth inning led to four unearned runs, and the Pirates split a four-game series at San Diego.
It was the first time the Pirates scored more than three runs in six games this year.
Philadelphia 13, St. Louis 4 -- Pat Burrell hit a three-run homer to increase his major league-leading run batted in total to 15 and Bobby Abreu had three hits and four RBIs, helping the Phillies win at St. Louis.
Chicago 6, Milwaukee 5 -- Todd Hollandsworth singled through a drawn-in infield with one out in the 12th for the Cubs at Chicago.
San Francisco 11, Colorado 4 -- Jason Schmidt singled twice in a seven-run fifth and gave up only two hits in six sharp innings, helping the Giants complete a three-game sweep at San Francisco.
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