Soler Perseveres in Mets’ Victory

Cuban defector Alay Soler was beyond nervous in his first major league start for the New York Mets.

Auditioning for a spot on the back end of the New York rotation, Soler gave up three runs against Philadelphia before retiring a batter. He walked the first three hitters he faced. It was an unlikely beginning for what developed into a 5-4 Mets victory Wednesday night at New York.

“I had my nerves, but I tried to make my pitches,” Soler said. “It wasn’t like that until I was able to find the zone and I was able to stay in the zone.”

Soler pitched his way out of the first inning and added five shutout innings before leaving with a 4-3 lead. Pat Burrell tied it at 4-4 with his 33rd career home run against the Mets, but New York got three singles in the bottom of the seventh, the last one by David Wright, to score the eventual winning run.

Philadelphia starter Jon Lieber was gone by then after his own control problems, walking four in six innings. Lieber blamed home plate umpire Jerry Meals.

“I thought he was terrible at times,” he said. “It gets to the point where you make certain pitches that obviously are strikes. I didn’t think he was very good.”

Soler’s final line was five hits, four walks, but only one after the first inning, and five strikeouts.

Florida 9, Chicago 3 -- Joe Borchard and Miguel Cabrera hit three-run homers and the Marlins roughed up Greg Maddux to complete a three-game sweep at Miami. Maddux (5-4) gave up six runs and eight hits in six innings, remaining winless in May.

Atlanta 10, San Diego 6 -- Andruw Jones hit a pair of two-run homers and Chipper Jones had four singles and scored three runs to lead the Braves at San Diego. Andruw Jones also scored three runs.

St. Louis 10, San Francisco 4 -- Adam Wainwright (2-1) homered in his first major league at-bat and pitched three innings of relief to earn the victory at San Francisco as Barry Bonds was rested.

Cy Young winner Chris Carpenter was scratched by St. Louis because of swelling in the right side of his upper back near the shoulder blade.

Washington 5, Houston 1 -- Ryan Zimmerman tripled and scored in a four-run eighth inning as the Nationals rallied at Washington for their fourth victory in the last five games.

Arizona 8, Pittsburgh 7 -- Orlando Hudson had four hits, Andy Green drove in a career-high three runs, and the Diamondbacks completed a three-game sweep at Phoenix.

Milwaukee 6, Cincinnati 2 -- Carlos Lee homered for the first time in 14 games, a two-run shot that helped the Brewers win at Cincinnati.