Willis Just Too Much for the Mets

Dontrelle Willis hit a grand slam and pitched effectively into the eighth inning Friday night, leading the Florida Marlins to a 7-3 victory over the New York Mets at Shea Stadium.

Willis hit a first-pitch mistake from Jose Lima, sending a drive estimated at 405 feet into the right-field bullpen. It was the first grand slam by a major league pitcher since Philadelphia’s Robert Person connected on June 2, 2002, against Montreal, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

“He was having trouble with his command,” Willis said. “I thought, I’m going to swing at whatever he throws.”

Willis’ fourth career homer -- and first this season -- highlighted Florida’s six-run fourth. The Marlins won for the second time in seven games and stopped the Mets’ three-game winning streak.

Lima (0-4), filling in because ace Pedro Martinez has a sore hip and is on the disabled list, was designated for assignment after the game. His earned-run average in four starts was 9.87.

San Diego 3, Washington 2 -- Woody Williams pitched 5 1/3 innings for the win at Washington, but the Nationals’ tired bullpen was perhaps a bigger factor.

With few fresh arms available, Manager Frank Robinson allowed laboring starter Ramon Ortiz to bat -- and strike out -- with the bases loaded in the fifth inning.

That was enough to tip the balance in favor of the Padres. Adrian Gonzalez homered -- a solo shot to deep right-center in the fourth -- and they scored two more runs in the fifth.

Ortiz lasted into the seventh inning, yielding nine hits and walking four before he was removed with two out and two on after a season-high 122 pitches.

Cincinnati 10, Atlanta 5 -- The Reds put a decisive end to their six-game losing streak, scoring eight runs in the second inning at Atlanta. The 10 hits in the inning were their most in 17 years.

The Reds had 16 hits during a 14-run first inning on Aug. 3, 1989, against Houston, the most in the major leagues since 1900.

St. Louis 8, Houston 2 -- Jason Marquis shut down the host Astros for his 11th victory. The right-hander, who tied Tom Glavine of the Mets for the league lead in wins, was replaced by Jason Isringhausen after Morgan Ensberg walked in the eighth. Isringhausen got four outs for his league-leading 26th save.

Pittsburgh 3, Philadelphia 2 -- Ian Snell yielded three hits and one run in seven innings and the Pirates, who have lost seven consecutive series, won the first of three at Philadelphia.

The Pirates improved to 10-34 away from Pittsburgh -- the worst road record in the major leagues.

Chicago 7, Milwaukee 2 -- Carlos Zambrano yielded one run over six innings at Milwaukee to win his fifth consecutive decision. He struck out six to increase his league-leading total to 124.