Glavine, Mets beat Garcia, Phillies, 8-1

Freddy Garcia’s long-anticipated debut with the Phillies was a bust.

Moises Alou homered twice and drove in three runs, Tom Glavine got his 293rd victory and the New York Mets defeated Philadelphia, 8-1, Tuesday night.

Garcia (0-1) gave up three runs and eight hits, striking out six in 4 2/3 innings. The two-time All-Star acquired from the Chicago White Sox in the off-season missed two starts because of biceps tendinitis. He was scheduled to pitch Sunday, but consecutive rainouts pushed him back two days.

Expected to contend for the National League East title, the Phillies are off to a 3-9 start, including 1-5 at home.

Manager Charlie Manuel’s frustration was evident after the game. The normally mild-mannered manager challenged a radio talk-show host to a fight.

Manuel had to be restrained by hitting coach Milt Thompson at one point.

“We’re going to win,” Manuel could be heard yelling in his office.

David Wright extended his career-best hitting streak to 24 games, tying the Mets’ franchise record. Hubie Brooks in 1984 and Mike Piazza in 1999 also had 24-game hitting streaks for New York.

Around the league

Chicago Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano expects to miss about a week after straining his left hamstring while diving for a ball against the San Diego Padres on Monday.... Shortstop Alex Gonzalez returned to the Cincinnati Reds and was reinstated off the bereavement list.

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RESULTS

* Atlanta 6, at Washington 4: John Smoltz moved to within one strikeout of Cy Young and within five victories of 200 in the Braves’ victory. Smoltz (2-1) didn’t give up an earned run until the seventh inning, Chipper Jones homered, and Kelly Johnson had a career-high four hits.

* at Houston 6, Florida 1: Carlos Lee hit a two-run homer and drove in two more runs to lead the Astros. Roy Oswalt (3-0) gave up one run -- Hanley Ramirez homered on his third pitch -- and six hits in 6 1/3 innings. He has won nine consecutive decisions dating to August.

* San Diego 4, at Chicago 3: Geoff Blum doubled in the go-ahead run in the 14th inning and the Padres held on to win at Wrigley Field.

* at Cincinnati 11, Milwaukee 5: Ryan Freel had four hits and singled to start a seventh-inning rally for the Reds, who split a four-game series with the Brewers.

* at Colorado 5, San Francisco 3: Yorvit Torrealba’s three-run double off Kevin Correia capped a five-run eighth inning that carried the Rockies past the Giants.

* New York 8, at Philadelphia 1: Moises Alou homered twice and drove in three runs, and Tom Glavine got his 293rd victory for the Mets.

* Dodgers 6, at Arizona 4: The Dodgers are the first team to reach 10 victories.

From the Associated Press