Mets salvage split, keep edge over Phillies

Carlos Delgado hit two long homers and drove in four runs, backing a big win by Johan Santana as the Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-3 on Sunday night for a doubleheader split in New York.

The N.L. East leaders salvaged the finale of the three-game series, giving them a two-game edge over second-place Philadelphia.

In the opener, Jamie Moyer allowed only two soft singles in seven shutout innings and Greg Dobbs hit a three-run homer off Pedro Martinez, leading the Phillies to a 6-2 victory.

That put the pressure on Santana (13-7), acquired from Minnesota last offseason and signed to a $137.5 million, six-year contract. A win in the nightcap would have left New York atop the division with 19 games to play. A loss would have created a first-place tie and stir painful memories of last September’s epic collapse.

In the opener, Moyer’s 243rd win tied him with Hall of Famer Juan Marichal for 50th on the career list.

N.L. highlights

Dodgers 5, Diamondbacks 3: James Loney had three RBIs and Los Angeles completed a three-game sweep of visiting Arizona with a victory that gave them a 1 1/2 -game lead on the Diamondbacks in the West. The Dodgers tied a season best with their eighth straight win, following an eight-game skid. The Diamondbacks have lost six of eight. On Aug. 29, they held a 4 1/2 -game lead on Los Angeles.

Padres 10, Brewers 1: Chris Young came within four outs of a perfect game, retiring the first 23 Milwaukee batters in order before Gabe Kapler homered, and San Diego beat the Brewers in Milwaukee. The Brewers remained four games behind the Chicago Cubs in the Central after the Cubs lost 4-3 to Cincinnati.

Astros 7, Rockies 5: Pinch-hitters Darin Erstad and David Newhan had back-to-back run-scoring hits in the eighth inning, lifting Houston to a win over the Colorado Rockies at Denver. The Astros have won 10 of 11 to pull within six games of wild card-leading Milwaukee.

A.L. highlights

Red Sox 7, Rangers 2: David Ortiz hit his first home run in 20 games, Paul Byrd pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings to win his fourth straight decision and Boston beat Texas at Arlington to move within 1 1/2 games of the East lead.

Blue Jays 1, Rays 0: David Purcey pitched eight shutout innings and Toronto completed a three-game sweep at home with a victory over Tampa Bay. The East-leading Rays lost for the fifth time in six games.

Tigers 7, Twins 5: Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez and Dusty Ryan homered and Detroit beat Minnesota at Minneapolis. Minnesota remains 2 1/2 games behind first-place Chicago in the AL Central. The White Sox lost 3-2 to Los Angeles.

Angels 3, White Sox 2: Joe Saunders flashed his All-Star form while earning his first win in over a month, and Los Angeles to win at Chicago, avoiding a three-game sweep.

Saunders (15-7) earned his first win since July 30, holding Central-leading Chicago to two runs and four hits in 7 1/3 innings.

Clement’s season over early

Jeff Clement will have arthroscopic knee surgery on Tuesday that will keep him out for the remainder of his rookie season with Seattle.

Clement, 25, hit .227 this season in 66 games with Seattle.