Beck Blows Another Giant Save

National League

The New York Mets rallied for two runs in the bottom of the 11th inning to win their fifth straight game Monday night, beating the San Francisco Giants 5-4 as Rod Beck blew a save for the 10th time this season.

The Mets fell behind 4-3 on a bases-loaded balk by rookie reliever Paul Byrd (1-0) in the top of the 11th, and Beck was one out away from his 23rd save in the bottom of the inning.

But Joe Orsulak doubled to the wall in left-center, scoring pinch-runner Damon Buford from first, and Jose Vizcaino followed with a game-winning RBI single off Beck (5-6).

Cardinals 8, Reds 6

St. Louis

Brian Jordan hit a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning off Mike Jackson to give St. Louis a win over Cincinnati.

Bernard Gilkey doubled off Jackson (5-1) with one out in the ninth and Ray Lankford walked with two outs before Jordan hit his 17th home run on a 1-2 pitch.

Phillies 3, Padres 1

Philadelphia

Sid Fernandez allowed five hits in eight innings and drove in the go-ahead run as Philadelphia earned its fifth straight victory, beating San Diego.

In winning his fourth straight decision, Fernandez (4-1) struck out seven, walked two and allowed only two hits after the second inning. Toby Borland allowed two hits with two outs in the ninth, but struck out Brad Ausmus for his fifth save.

Pirates 5, Marlins 3

Pittsburgh

Carlos Garcia’s two-run double in the seventh inning broke a tie and helped Pittsburgh complete a five-game sweep of Florida.

With the score tied at 3 in the seventh, Jacob Brumfield and Al Martin singled off Mark Gardner (5-5). Garcia then hit an 0-2 pitch that bounced off the warning track in left-center field to score both runs.

Dodgers 7, Expos 2

Montreal

Ismael Valdes pitched eight strong innings, and Mike Piazza, Raul Mondesi and Delino DeShields all homered in the seventh inning as Los Angeles beat Montreal.

Valdes (11-7), who turned 22 Monday, scattered six hits, struck out six and walked none before Todd Worrell pitched the ninth.

Valdes is 6-1 with a 1.74 ERA in his last seven starts.

Braves 5, Astros 4

Houston

Ryan Klesko went 3 for 4 and hit an RBI double that broke a seventh-inning tie as Atlanta extended Houston’s losing streak to five games.

The Braves trailed 4-3 entering the seventh. Jeff Blauser reached on Ricky Gutierrez’s second error of the game, and went to third when Chipper Jones doubled off Craig McMurtry (0-1).

Fregosi stays put

Jim Fregosi will return as Philadelphia manager next season.

Fregosi’s future was the subject of intense speculation since the Phillies plummeted from a 37-18 record and a five-game lead in the N.L. East June 25 to their current record of 55-53, 12-1/2 games behind first-place Atlanta.

Managing general partner Bill Giles said he and general manager Lee Thomas decided three weeks ago that Fregosi would return, but wanted to wait until a Sept. 8 meeting with the Phillies’ general partners.

Clearing the bases

Chicago’s Sammy Sosa, who hit five homers last week, was named the N.L. player of the week… . St. Louis shortstop Ozzie Smith is 2 for 17 since returning from shoulder surgery.