Mets triumph in HR contest

Carlos Beltran hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning, putting a rousing ending to a night of grand-slam derby and rallying the New York Mets over the St. Louis Cardinals 8-7 at home Tuesday.

St. Louis star Albert Pujols hit a slam and a three-run homer, setting a career-high with seven RBIs. Mets slugger Carlos Delgado almost matched that, crunching a solo shot and a slam to reach 400 homers.

Beltran's one-out drive to right field off Jason Isringhausen (4-7) capped the Mets' comeback from a 7-1 deficit. It also decided the game between NL division leaders and gave the Mets a five-game winning streak.

On a rollicking night at Shea Stadium, a Mets crowd of 49,661 that included former President Clinton had plenty to cheer about. Fans found out Tom Glavine will not need surgery on his left shoulder, and learned Shawn Green was acquired from Arizona.

Beltran set off the biggest ovation, connecting after Paul Lo Duca singled.

Aaron Heilman (3-4) won in relief.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

MARLINS 7, NATIONALS 5: At Miami, Miguel Cabrera reached on an eighth inning error and then scored the go-ahead run on Jeremy Hermida's ground out to help Florida beat Washington.

Cabrera led off the eighth by reaching on third baseman Ryan Zimmerman's fielding error. Josh Willingham singled and Mike Jacobs walked to load the bases against reliever Ryan Wagner (0-2).

PADRES 1, DODGERS 0: At San Diego, Mike Piazza snapped a 0-for-26 slump with an RBI single and Jake Peavy threw seven dominating innings as the Padres beat Los Angeles to pull within two-games of the NL West-leading Dodgers.

REDS 14, ASTROS 0: At Cincinnati, Adam Dunn's three-run homer completed an eight-run third inning that swept the Reds to their fourth straight victory.

Cincinnati hit four homers in all — Scott Hatteberg also had a three-run shot — during its most lopsided victory of the season.

Right-hander Kyle Lohse (1-0) gave up four hits in eight innings and had three of his own, getting his first victory and his biggest ovations since arriving in a July 31 trade with the Twins.

PIRATES 5, BRAVES 3: At Atlanta, Freddy Sanchez and Jason Bay hit consecutive run-scoring singles in the eighth inning to rally Pittsburgh past Atlanta.