Three Mets combine for one-hitter

Seo earns victory as New York faces minimum 27 Marlins in 5-0 win

? It wasn’t perfect, but it’s as close as the New York Mets have ever come in their 42-year history.

Rookie right-hander Jae Seo combined with two relievers on a one-hitter, as the Mets faced the minimum 27 batters and beat the Florida Marlins, 5-0, Tuesday night.

Seo (5-2) went 62/3 innings, allowing only a fifth-inning single to Juan Encarnacion before splitting a nail on the index finger of his pitching hand and being removed from the game.

“I didn’t know anything about it,” said Seo, through an interpreter, of the Mets’ first-time feat. “I’m more happy about making up for the tough loss we took last night.”

It was the third straight game that the Mets were involved in a one-hitter. Steve Trachsel threw a complete-game one-hitter Sunday at Anaheim. Florida rookie Dontrelle Willis threw a one-hitter against them Monday night.

The Elias Sports Bureau, baseball’s statistician, was unable to immediately determine whether a team had ever been involved in three consecutive one-hitters.

“It’s crazy how it happened,” Marlins outfielder Juan Pierre said. “That’s baseball, a tale of two nights.”

New York’s starting pitchers have allowed only six hits in their last 202/3 innings. David Weathers and Armando Benitez pitched 21/3 innings of perfect relief to close out Seo’s fourth straight winning start.

“Our pitching has been good. It’s been fun to watch,” said outfielder Jeromy Burnitz, who homered in the seventh to break a scoreless tie. “When the pitching has been dominating as ours has been, it does take some of the pressure off the hitters.”

Carl Pavano (5-8) took the loss after allowing seven hits, three runs and striking out three in eight innings.

“Turnabout’s fair play,” Marlins manager Jack McKeon said. “We threw a one-hitter at them last night, they threw a one-hitter at us tonight.”

With two outs in the seventh, Seo threw a first-pitch strike to Ivan Rodriguez then walked off the mound and motioned to the dugout.

Manager Art Howe and assistant trainer Mike Herbst went to the mound and examined Seo’s hand. Seo, grimacing in obvious pain, was removed and replaced by Weathers.

“There was some blood showing,” Howe said.

Dodgers 4, Giants 1

Los Angeles — Kevin Brown won his ninth straight decision despite leaving because of a groin injury, and Paul Lo Duca went 4-for-4 in extending his hitting streak to 24 games as Los Angeles beat San Francisco. The win was the seventh straight for the Dodgers, who moved within one game of the first-place Giants in the NL West.

Brown (10-1) allowed seven hits and one run in six innings. He walked two and struck out four in joining Seattle’s Jamie Moyer as the only 10-game winners in the majors.

Brown has won his last seven starts.

Cardinals 12, Brewers 3

Milwaukee — Garrett Stephenson won his first road game in three seasons and Albert Pujols, Miguel Cairo and Jim Edmonds homered to lead St. Louis past Milwaukee. The Cardinals had gone 10 straight games since getting a win from one of their starters.

Stephenson (4-5) hadn’t won in 11 straight road starts dating to Sept. 1, 2000, when he beat Pittsburgh. He missed the entire 2001 season after right elbow surgery. He made 10 starts in 2002, but was on the disabled list twice, because of a strained back and a strained hamstring.

Reds 2, Cubs 1 (10)

Cincinnati — Sean Casey’s RBI double with two outs in the 10th inning gave Cincinnati a victory over Chicago in its final game without Sammy Sosa. The Reds lead the majors with 18 wins in their last at-bat — more than half their total of 35. They’ve gotten nine game-ending hits from eight players, including Casey twice.

Phillies 5, Braves 4

Philadelphia — David Bell singled in pinch-runner Nick Punto in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting Philadelphia. Jimmy Rollins went 4-for-4 with two RBIs for the Phillies, who have won two of their last three games. Turk Wendell (1-1) pitched two shutout innings to pick up his first win in two years and his first for Philadelphia. After being acquired from the Mets in July 2001, he went 0-2 before missing the entire 2002 season because of an elbow injury.

Astros 4, D’backs 3

Houston — Jeff Kent hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth inning and Octavio Dotel earned his team-leading sixth victory as Houston snapped a four-game losing streak. Billy Wagner pitched the ninth for his 20th save.