Mighty Mets: Glavine, Beltran power N.Y. past St. Louis, 2-0

NEW YORK — Tom Glavine tossed another gem, Carlos Beltran rocked Shea Stadium with a homer that crashed off the scoreboard, and the New York Mets jumped in front of St. Louis in the NL championship series.

Glavine shut down Albert Pujols and extended his postseason scoreless streak to 13 innings, pitching the Mets to a 2-0 victory over the Cardinals in Game 1 on Thursday night.

"Tommy was the key," Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "He just quietly goes about his business and he's a real leader on our staff."

Beltran, who wore out St. Louis in the NLCS with Houston two years ago, hit a two-run shot off an otherwise impressive Jeff Weaver in the sixth. That was all the offense New York needed to win its eighth straight game, dating to the regular season.

"Every time you do something in October it means a lot," Beltran said. "Hitting the home run today of course brings memories."

After rain postponed the opener Wednesday night, the Cardinals bumped up ace Chris Carpenter, who will pitch on regular rest tonight in Game 2. Rookie right-hander John Maine will be on the mound for the Mets.

Missing injured starters Pedro Martinez and Orlando Hernandez, the Mets are counting heavily on Glavine as they chase their first World Series title in 20 years. The 40-year-old left-hander, sharp and deceptive as ever, has delivered in a big way.

He threw six scoreless innings in Game 2 of the first round, helping the Mets to a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers. And the two-time Cy Young Award winner, who waited four seasons to reach the playoffs with New York after doing so year after year in Atlanta, was just as good against St. Louis.

"I understand the importance of when I pitch now. At the same time, I'm trying to play mental games with myself and dismiss that," Glavine said. "I don't want to go out there with any added pressure."

Helped by two inning-ending double plays and a sprawling catch by super sub Endy Chavez, Glavine yielded only four hits and two walks. He struck out Pujols in the first, walked him in the fourth and retired him on a liner to shortstop in the sixth.

"The first part I executed really well, which was face him with no one on base," Glavine said. "He's obviously the best hitter in baseball right now. When he's in the box ... you have to face him like any other hitter. You have to attack him and be aggressive."