San Diego ? Mike Cameron and Carlos Beltran sprinted toward the sinking liner, both outfielders watching the ball and diving toward the same spot.

They didn’t see each other and smashed face-to-face in what many of their New York teammates said was one of the scariest collisions they’ve ever seen. The Mets who ran to the fallen pair during the seventh inning of a 2-1 loss to the San Diego Padres on Thursday said Cameron was dazed and bleeding from the mouth.

Cameron was taken off the field on a stretcher, his body immobilized and his neck in a brace. He was taken to Mercy Hospital, where he underwent two CT scans. Cameron broke his nose, had multiple fractures of both cheekbones and a slight concussion, and was to be hospitalized overnight, Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said. Cameron was placed on the disabled list.

Beltran had a sore left shoulder and a cut near his left temple. He was to have a CT scan and then possibly head to Los Angeles to rejoin the Mets, who open a series against the Dodgers tonight.

“I don’t remember anything of what happened,” Beltran said. “I don’t remember how it happened, I know we got hit. I feel like I got hit by a train.”

Beltran said he felt lucky.

“Of course, after a collision like that, I feel good that I’m OK. My shoulder feels sore, but I’ll be fine.”

New York Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran, left, and right fielder Mike Cameron dive for a fly ball. The two collided, and Cameron was taken off the field on a stretcher Thursday in San Diego. The Padres defeated the Mets, 2-1.

Cameron was fully extended diving for David Ross’ liner when he and Beltran collided, falling into a heap. The game was delayed for about 13 minutes as the players were tended to by trainers from both teams, then paramedics.

Cameron lifted his head at one point and shielded his eyes from the sun as he was put onto a stretcher by paramedics, lifted onto a cart and driven off the field.

Beltran got up after a few minutes after the collision and eventually walked off the field on his own power.

First baseman Marlon Anderson was the first player to reach the fallen outfielders.

Cameron “was dazed, kind of not really there,” Anderson said. “I was like, ‘Cam, can you hear me?’ He mumbled, ‘Yeah,’ but he wasn’t there. You could tell he wasn’t right.

“I couldn’t imagine being a paramedic going to the scene of a wreck. That’s what that was, pretty much, a wreck,” Anderson said.

“I couldn’t go over there, man,” left fielder Cliff Floyd said. “Once I saw the blood, I’m not good with blood.

“It choked me up for a minute,” Floyd said. “We were laughing and giggling one minute, the next minute, a man’s down on the ground, both of them.”

Cameron moved from center field to right field during spring training to accommodate Beltran, who signed as a free agent in the offseason, so both play with the same mentality.

“I knew those guys were so competitive,” Floyd said. “You try to block that out when they run together, two center fielders. They’re taught to chase the ball. They’re taught to give it everything.”

Neither Cameron nor Beltran caught the ball, which went for a triple. Shortstop Chris Woodward sprinted out to get the ball and throw it into the infield.

Dodgers 5, Phillies 1

Los Angeles – Odalis Perez pitched eight solid innings, Jeff Kent provided the go-ahead runs with a two-run double, and Los Angeles Dodgers beat Philadelphia. Perez (7-6) held the Phillies to one run on five hits and had a season-high eight strikeouts to help the Dodgers avoid a sweep in the three-game series. He walked three.

Astros 6, Nationals 3

Houston – Andy Pettitte won for the sixth time in eight starts, and Houston beat Washington. Brad Ausmus had a three-run double in the sixth off crumbling starter Ryan Drese (3-6), who lost his fifth consecutive start for the Nationals. Washington has dropped five of its last six to fall three games behind Houston in the NL wild-card race.

Giants 5, Braves 3

Atlanta – Randy Winn hit a two-out, two-run homer in the seventh, and San Francisco avoided a sweep in Atlanta. One night after scoring three runs off John Smoltz in the ninth – only to lose, 5-4, in the 12th – the Giants made this comeback stick.

Diamondbacks 3, Marlins 1

Miami – Troy Glaus and Chad Tracy homered in the eighth to support a strong outing by Brandon Webb and lead Arizona. Webb (10-8) limited Florida to four hits and a walk in eight innings. He struck out seven to help Arizona avoid being swept in the three-game series. Tracy tied it in the eighth with a leadoff shot off left-hander Valerio de los Santos (1-2), who left after allowing Luis Gonzalez’s single.

Cubs 11, Cardinals 4

Chicago – Greg Maddux pitched his first complete game in more than a year, Derrek Lee hit two home runs, and Chicago snapped its eight-game losing streak. Maddux (9-9) allowed 12 hits in going the distance for the first time since July 22, 2004. He won his 314th game, tying Gaylord Perry for 16th place on the all-time list.

Pirates 11, Rockies 3

Denver – Jose Castillo had a two-run triple among his three hits, and Jason Bay had three hits and scored three times to lead Pittsburgh.