NEW YORK - David Bell's second home run of the game broke a 13th-inning tie, and the Phillies overcame a four-run deficit in an 11-9 victory over the Mets.
New York (eight) and Philadelphia (10) combined to tie the major league record for pitchers used, and Philadelphia matched the NL record for one team, one shy of the major league mark set by Seattle in 1996.
Jim Thome beat out an infield hit that glanced off the glove of Vic Darensbourg, and Bell followed with his fourth hit of the game and 15th homer of the season.
Philadelphia had strung together four straight singles with two outs in the ninth inning, with Bell and Jason Michaels driving in runs to take a 9-7 lead. But the Mets, who have lost 18 of 20, came back with two unearned runs, tying the score on Wilson Delgado's two-out single against Billy Wagner, who then was ejected by plate umpire Dana DeMuth after throwing two high pitches to Cliff Floyd.
Pat Burrell, Todd Pratt and pinch-hitter Ryan Howard also homered for Philadelphia. The Phillies, 41/2 games out in the wild-card race but trailing five teams, have won five consecutive.
PIRATES 5, ASTROS 2: Jason Bay homered and drove in four and Ryan Vogelsong limited visiting Houston to one run over six innings. The rest of the league hasn't had trouble figuring out Vogelsong (5-12), but he beat the Astros for the second time in as many starts. He has allowed two earned runs in 12 innings against Houston this season, including a 7-2 decision June 23 in Houston.
Craig Biggio homered on Vogelsong's second pitch of the game and drove in both Houston runs. Biggio's 22nd homer tied a career high and extended his NL record to 40 homers leading off games.
Salomon Torres pitched two scoreless innings of relief and Mike Gonzalez got one out in the ninth before giving up back-to-back singles in the ninth to Brad Ausmus and pinch-hitter Jason Alfaro. Jose Mesa relieved Gonzalez and allowed an RBI single to Biggio before retiring the final two batters to pick up his 39th save in 44 opportunities.
BRAVES 8, EXPOS 1: Andruw Jones and Rafael Furcal each homered and pinch-hitter Julio Franco capped a six-run seventh with a two-run double for host Atlanta. The Braves stretched their lead in the East to 81/2 games but lost starting pitcher Mike Hampton with a strained left knee. Hampton - making his first since Aug. 31 - gave up four hits in 41/3 scoreless innings before leaving. He appeared to injure his knee while trying to beat out a sacrifice in the bottom of the fourth. After he faced one batter in the fifth, the trainer and pitching coach Leo Mazzone visited Hampton. A brief discussion ensued, then Hampton headed to the dugout with a limp. He is scheduled to have an MRI Monday.
GIANTS 5, D'BACKS 3: Barry Bonds broke his major league record for walks in a season and rookie Noah Lowry allowed four hits in seven-plus innings for visiting San Francisco. Bonds walked three times, once intentionally, to run his season total to 201, surpassing the record of 198 he set two seasons ago. His 104 intentional walks long ago broke his single-season mark of 68 set in 2002. Bonds singled in the third and struck out looking in the ninth to go without a home run for the third game in a row to remain two shy of 700 for his career.
ROCKIES 13, PADRES 2: Matt Holliday and Clint Barmes drove in three each for host Colorado, which finished with 18 hits. Garrett Atkins hit his first career homer, a two-run shot in the seventh inning, Barmes was 3-for-5 and every position player had a hit for Colorado, which has won seven of 10 - all against teams still in the race.
REDS 9, BREWERS 0: Adam Dunn hit a grand slam in a seven-run third inning for host Cincinnati. Dunn and Austin Kearns hit consecutive homers in the third off Victor Santos.
