Ordonez Finally a Real Hit for Mets When It Matters

Shut out for 19 consecutive innings, the New York Mets needed a hitting hero. And they found one--Rey Ordonez, of all people.

Ordonez lined an RBI single with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning, breaking up a tense duel and lifting the Mets over the Atlanta Braves, 1-0, Thursday night at New York.

“Sometimes, they put in a pinch-hitter for me,” Ordonez said. “Now, I got an opportunity.”

Asked the last time he had been mobbed after a game-winning hit, Ordonez smiled.

“I don’t remember,” he said.

Glendon Rusch of the Mets and John Burkett of the Braves matched zeros for seven innings, then the bullpens took over.

And after the Braves blew a great chance in the top of the 10th set up by reliever Armando Benitez’s wild pitch during an intentional walk, the Mets won it.

Todd Zeile drew a leadoff walk on four pitches from Kerry Ligtenberg (0-2) and Tsuyoshi Shinjo sacrificed.

Ordonez lined a drive down the left-field line on the first pitch.

Milwaukee 12, Houston 4--Jose Hernandez hit a grand slam and a three-run homer at Milwaukee to equal Ted Kubiak’s 31-year-old team record with seven runs batted in.

Tyler Houston and Luis Lopez hit two-run homers for Milwaukee, which had been 0-5 against the Astros this season.

Colorado 6, St. Louis 4--Dustin Hermanson took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning but the Rockies rallied to defeat the Cardinals at St. Louis on Mark Little’s two-run single in the ninth.

Hermanson didn’t allow a hit until Larry Walker’s one-out, two-run homer in the seventh. Todd Helton homered two pitches later for a 3-2 lead.

San Diego 8, San Francisco 3--Adam Eaton (2-0) survived solo homers by Barry Bonds and Jeff Kent at San Diego as the Padres stopped their seven-game losing streak against the Giants.

Tony Gwynn hit his 535th career double, tying Lou Gehrig for 22nd on the career list.

Cincinnati 11, Pittsburgh 6--Sean Casey hit a long home run and went two for five with two RBIs at Pittsburgh. Casey, a Pittsburgh native, finished nine for 14 with two homers, three doubles and eight RBIs in the first series in PNC Park.