Mets Win in 13th of Pitchers’ Duel

Endy Chavez threw his arms in the air after the ball left his bat. One of the smallest New York Mets had just ended a matchup that began as a duel between two big-time pitchers.

Chavez’s run-scoring single in the 13th inning lifted the Mets over the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks, 1-0, Wednesday night, long after starters Brandon Webb and Pedro Martinez left the game.

“Championship teams have to win some games like this,” Mets second baseman Jose Valentin said.

Webb and New York’s Martinez were as good as advertised, combining to throw 15 scoreless innings. Chavez came through with the big hit against Jason Grimsley (1-2).

Valentin led off the 13th with a double and advanced to third on Ramon Castro’s groundout. Chavez then singled on a 1-0 pitch.

Webb is unbeaten and was trying to become the majors’ first nine-game winner. He pitched seven shutout innings to run his scoreless streak to 25, longest in the big leagues this year. He gave up four hits, struck out five and walked one while lowering his league-leading earned-run average to 2.01.

Martinez gave up five hits in eight shutout innings. He struck out eight and didn’t walk a batter.

San Francisco 6, Florida 1 -- Jason Schmidt won his fifth straight decision, striking out 10 before leaving in the sixth inning because of a cramp in his right leg at Miami.

Jeremy Accardo pitched 2 1/3 perfect innings of relief. Schmidt (5-2) allowed one run and five hits while improving to 7-0 against the Marlins.

Steve Finley had a two-run homer for the Giants, who played without Barry Bonds for the second straight day.

St. Louis 4, Houston 3 -- So Taguchi’s bases-loaded single off Mike Gallo in the 11th inning lifted the Cardinals at St. Louis.

David Eckstein had two hits and scored twice and Albert Pujols drove in his major league-leading 65th run for the Cardinals. Braden Looper (3-0) struck out one in a perfect 11th for the Cardinals.

Pittsburgh 6, Milwaukee 1 -- Jose Castillo homered for the fifth consecutive game and Freddy Sanchez scored three runs at Pittsburgh to help the Pirates to their first three-game winning streak of the season.

San Diego 3, Colorado 2 -- Mark Bellhorn doubled in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning and the Padres rallied to beat the Rockies at San Diego.

Cincinnati 3, Chicago 2 -- Eric Milton took a shutout into the eighth inning at Chicago to help the Reds avoid a three-game sweep.

Milton (3-2) allowed a single to Juan Pierre leading off the first then retired the next 17 batters before Pierre singled up the middle in the sixth.

Washington 3, Philadelphia 2 -- Alfonso Soriano hit a two-run homer and a tiebreaking single, helping the Nationals avoid a three-game sweep at Philadelphia. Livan Hernandez (4-5) pitched seven solid innings for his third straight win.