NEW YORK (AP) -The New York Mets spent most of the afternoon resting up for the Subway Series. Then in one sudden burst, they went rushing into their biggest rivalry.
Carlos Delgado’s two-run single capped a five-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Mets startled the Chicago Cubs 6-5 Thursday.
Manager Willie Randolph started a makeshift lineup because the Mets’ rain-delayed, 8-1 win Wednesday night ended at 12:53 a.m. David Wright, Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes were among those scheduled to have a day off.
Instead, Wright and Beltran contributed as pinch-hitters as the Mets pulled off their biggest ninth-inning comeback since 1999.
Delgado’s one-out single gave them a final thrill – and their seventh win in nine games – going into Friday night’s opener against the New York Yankees at Shea Stadium.
Cubs manager Lou Piniella watched relievers Ryan Dempster (1-2) and Scott Eyre blow the big lead. They lost for the sixth time in eight games, and headed back to Wrigley Field to play the Chicago White Sox on Friday.
Ambiorix Burgos (1-0) won in relief.
Down 5-1 in the ninth, the Mets got going when David Newhan led off with a single and Carlos Gomez singled with one out. Piniella went to the mound to talk to Dempster, who loaded the bases with a walk to Beltran.
Endy Chavez drew a walk that forced in a run, and Ruben Gotay’s RBI single brought Eyre from the bullpen. Wright batted for Shawn Green and singled to make it 5-4. Delgado followed with a grounder just beyond diving second baseman Ryan Theriot.
Brewers 3, Phillies 2
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Ben Sheets struck out eight in 7 2-3 innings, and Gabe Gross hit a pair of solo homers for the first multihomer game of his big league career, helping Milwaukee end a four-game losing streak.
The NL Central-leading Brewers won 10 of 11 before going on the road and have lost five of seven since.
Sheets (4-2) combined with Francisco Cordero on a six-hitter and Gross added some surprising power from the No. 7 spot in the order, helping prevent the Phillies (20-21) from moving over .500 for the first time this season.
Freddy Garcia (1-3) gave up two runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings, and the big hits that carried the Phillies back to .500 after a 4-11 start were silenced. Philadelphia lost for the second time in eight games.
Sheets gave up only three hits, including Pat Burrell’s solo homer, through seven innings and five hits in all.
Nationals 4, Braves 3
WASHINGTON (AP) – Felipe Lopez returned from a rare day off by stopping an 0-for-13 skid with a single, double and go-ahead triple, and Washington rallied to Atlanta.
Last-place Washington has won six of its past seven games, including three of four against Atlanta. That means the Nationals have taken two consecutive series after failing to win any of their first 12 this season.
The recent success has hinged on some top bullpen work and occasional clutch hitting. Washington relied on that formula again, although not until after Chipper Jones’ two-run homer to center in the fourth helped Atlanta take a 3-1 lead off Matt Chico (3-4).
The rookie starter allowed three runs and five hits in six innings, but relievers Billy Traber, Jesus Colome, and Jon Rauch combined for three perfect innings, with Rauch earning his third save. Chad Paronto (2-1) was the loser.
Diamondbacks 3, Rockies 1
DENVER (AP) – Livan Hernandez allowed four hits over seven innings, singled twice and scored a run for Arizona.
The win gave the Diamondbacks two victories in the three-game series and their sixth series win of the year.
Hernandez (4-2) gave up a run while walking four and striking out two. He was 2-for-3 for his 30th multiple hit game of his career and a hit short of his career high. He raised his season batting average to .333.
Eric Byrnes had an RBI single and triple. Chris Young had two hits and scored a run for the Diamondbacks. Jose Valverde pitched the ninth for his 14th save in 16 tries.
Colorado wasted a good outing from Josh Fogg (1-5), who allowed two runs and seven hits over seven innings.
Pirates 7, Marlins 2
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh tied a team record with four sacrifice flies and took advantage of a team-record tying five Florida errors for the win.
Ronny Paulino had three RBIs and Shawn Chacon (1-0) pitched five shutout innings out of the bullpen for the Pirates, who earned a split of the four-game series.
The Pirates, who committed two errors, tied a club record set Sept. 9, 1988, against Philadelphia with four sacrifice flies. It was the third time the Marlins committed five errors in a game.
Hanley Ramirez and Jeremy Hermida each had two hits for Florida, which had a two-game winning streak snapped and had not committed five errors in a game since July 25, 2000. Ricky Nolasco (1-2) took the loss for Florida.
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