HOUSTON - Mike Piazza spoiled Roger Clemens' bid for his eighth straight win with a tying homer in the ninth off Octavio Dotel, and the Mets beat the Astros 3-2 Sunday on Jason Phillips' 13th-inning home run.
After Clemens struck out 10 in seven shutout innings, the Mets rallied in the ninth against Dotel. Eric Valent led off with a double, and two outs later, Piazza hit a 1-and-2 pitch over the right-center fence to tie it.
That spoiled Clemens' chance to become the first pitcher since Boston's Pedro Martinez in 1997 to win his first eight starts of the season. Dotel blew his second save in the past three outings.
The Rocket allowed two hits and singled in a run for the fifth RBI of his career. He lowered his ERA to a major-league-leading 1.72.
In their head-to-head matchup, Piazza went 0-for-2 with a strikeout and a walk. Clemens still brought a little heat to their simmering rivalry: he threw a 92 mph fastball high and inside, forcing Piazza to take a step back.
MARLINS 3, CARDINALS 2: Brad Penny (4-2) worked six solid innings, Juan Pierre had a two-run double and visiting Florida avoided a three-game sweep. Jim Edmonds hit his ninth homer for the Cardinals. Armando Benitez got six outs for his 15th save.
REDS 6, DODGERS 3: Adam Dunn had his first three-hit game of the season, including a two-run double, and visiting Cincinnati completed its first three-game sweep of the season. Danny Graves pitched a perfect ninth for his major-league-leading 17th save, sending the West-leading Dodgers to their season-worst fourth straight loss.
CUBS 4, PADRES 2: Jose Macias hit a tiebreaking home run off David Wells, and Michael Barrett also connected to lead visiting Chicago to a three-game sweep. The Cubs won their fourth straight to tie Houston atop the Central.
ROCKIES 7, PHILLIES 6: Jeromy Burnitz drove in the tiebreaking run with an infield single in the eighth inning and had four RBIs, helping host Colorado end a three-game losing streak.
EXPOS 6, DIAMONDBACKS 1: Livan Hernandez pitched a six-hitter for his second complete game in 10 days, and Brian Schneider hit a three-run homer to help visiting Montreal complete its first sweep of the season.
PIRATES 8, GIANTS 1: Rob Mackowiak homered twice and drove in four runs to help Pittsburgh complete its first sweep in San Francisco since September 1996.
