New York — A game that featured 35 hits and seven home runs was decided by four straight pitches out of the strike zone.
Pinch-hitter Mike Piazza drew a bases-loaded walk from Julio Santana in the 11th inning, and the New York Mets rallied past the Milwaukee Brewers, 9-8, Tuesday night.
"At 3-0, I looked down to third to see if there was a sign," Piazza said.
There was none.
"I've hit into double plays in those situations. I could see a 3-0, broken-bat comebacker to the pitcher," Piazza said, "so I was pretty much taking."
Mike Cameron tied the score with a one-out homer in the ninth off hard-throwing closer Derrick Turnbow, who had not allowed a run in converting his previous 15 save chances.
"He supplied most of the power," said Cameron, who has seven hits in two games since New York held onto him at the trade deadline Sunday.
David Wright also connected for the Mets, who overcame a four-run deficit and Milwaukee's season-high five homers.
Geoff Jenkins homered twice, including a tiebreaking shot off Roberto Hernandez that gave the Brewers an 8-7 lead in the ninth.
New York's Mike Piazza tosses his bat aside after drawing a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the 11th inning to force in the winning run. The Mets edged the Brewers, 9-8, Tuesday at Shea Stadium in New York.
Carlos Lee and Jenkins hit back-to-back homers in the first inning, and Russell Branyan and Damian Miller did the same against starter Victor Zambrano in the second as Milwaukee opened a 6-2 lead.
Lee drove in four runs, increasing his NL-leading total to 89. He also had four hits.
"We labored the whole night," Milwaukee manager Ned Yost said. "It was a great offensive night for us."
Wright opened the 11th with a single and was running as Cameron hit a liner right at shortstop Bill Hall, who was moving over to cover second base. The ball appeared to catch Hall by surprise and glanced off his glove into center field, putting runners at the corners.
Doug Mientkiewicz was intentionally walked, loading the bases. After Ramon Castro flied out to shallow right, Piazza took four straight balls from Santana (2-5).
Cardinals 3, Marlins 1
St. Louis - The Cardinals' Chris Carpenter pitched a three-hitter to beat Florida's Dontrelle Willis and become the major leagues' first 16-game winner. John Gall drove in the first two runs of his career, and Jim Edmonds had an RBI single for the Cardinals, who have the NL's best record at 67-39. Carpenter (16-4) won his eighth straight decision in nine starts.
Dodgers 5, Nationals 4
Washington - Jeff Kent hit one of four homers by Los Angeles, accounting for all the Dodgers' runs against slumping Washington. Jason Phillips, Jason Repko and pinch-hitter Hee-Seop Choi also connected, the first time this season. Jeff Weaver (9-8) left after facing one batter in the seventh inning. He allowed two runs - both on Brad Wilkerson's triple in the third - and six hits. Yhency Brazoban pitched the ninth for his 21st save.
Cubs 2, Phillies 1
Philadelphia - Carlos Zambrano pitched eight scoreless innings, and Aramis Ramirez hit a two-run single in the eighth for Chicago. Zambrano (8-4) allowed four hits and improved to 4-0 with a 1.49 earned-run average in his last seven starts. Ryan Dempster worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth for his 15th save.
Braves 12, Reds 2
Cincinnati - Chipper Jones homered and drove in four runs before leaving the game because of an injury in the fourth inning, and Atlanta ended the Reds' season-high five-game winning streak. Brian McCann also homered, and Marcus Giles had three hits and three RBI as the Braves rolled to their seventh win in their last eight games. Jones left the game because of a right shoulder injury after diving to his left in an effort to stop Ryan Freel's sharp grounder. He is day-to-day.
Padres 11, Pirates 3
Pittsburgh - Jake Peavy pitched seven innings and helped San Diego's slumping offense by driving in his first run this season, leading the Padres to only their second victory in 14 games. The Padres took advantage of Pirates starter Kip Wells' wildness to open a 5-0 lead in the fourth.
Astros 3, D'backs 1
Phoenix - Roger Clemens threw seven innings of four-hit ball to earn his 338th victory one day before his 43rd birthday, and the Astros beat Arizona. Adam Everett drove in the go-ahead run with a sixth-inning double and Mike Lamb homered for the Astros, who won for the 14th time in 16 games and extended their lead in the NL wild-card race to two games over Washington.
Rockies 4, Giants 3
San Francisco - Matt Holliday hit a two-run homer, and Jamey Wright pitched six strong innings for Colorado. Wright (6-11) allowed three hits to avenge an April 15 loss to the Giants, in which he allowed a career-high tying nine runs and was done after four innings.
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