NL: Marlins rout Hampton, Braves

ATLANTA - Miguel Cabrera and Carlos Delgado had four RBIs apiece, and the Florida Marlins beat the Atlanta Braves 11-6 Tuesday night in a game matching the top two teams in the East.

The Marlins roughed up Atlanta starter Mike Hampton, who lost for only the second time in 16 decisions dating to last July 4.

After falling behind 2-0, Florida took control with a five-run third inning. The first two hitters flied out, but Hampton gave up six consecutive hits, including a two-run double to Delgado and a run-scoring single by Cabrera.

Delgado homered off Hampton in the fifth, and Cabrera made it 9-2 with a three-run shot off Roman Colon in the seventh.

The Braves gave themselves hope with a four-run eighth. Rafael Furcal drove in two with a double, but Jim Mecir ended the rally by striking out pinch-hitter Chipper Jones and Brian Jordan.

The Marlins added two in the ninth. Delgado drove in his fourth of the night with a double, and Florida pulled out to a one-game lead over the Braves in the division race.

Al Leiter finally won a game in his fifth start of the season. The left-hander struggled with his control, walking six during his five-inning stint, but he gave up only two hits and one earned run.

Hampton had not allowed more than three runs in his first five starts, and he started strong by retiring eight of the first nine Florida hitters. But it all unraveled with two outs in the third.

Juan Pierre reached on an infield single, Luis Castillo singled to left and Delgado doubled down the leftfield line, bringing home both runners. Actually, the Braves had a good chance to cut down Castillo at the plate, but Rafael Furcal's relay throw sailed high and Delgado moved over to third.

Cabrera singled to right to put the Marlins up 3-2, then the Braves had another defensive lapse. Juan Encarnacion hit a slow roller to third baseman Wilson Betemit, who threw wildly to first. Encarnacion was given an infield hit, but the error allowed Cabrera to come all the way around to score.

Paul Lo Duca finished off the big inning with a run-scoring single to center.

Hampton was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the sixth, having allowed eight hits and six runs (five earned). The loss snapped his seven-game winning streak and was his first home loss since last June 29, also against Florida.

The Braves jumped ahead with two runs in the second, taking advantage of Leiter's wildness.

PHILLIES 10, METS 3: Pat Burrell hit a three-run homer off struggling Tom Glavine, and Bobby Abreu had four RBIs for visiting Atlanta.

Brett Myers struck out 10 in seven innings for the last-place Phillies, who broke out on offense after putting All-Star slugger Jim Thome and speedy center fielder Kenny Lofton on the disabled list.

Philadelphia, which entered ranked 15th out of 16 NL teams in slugging percentage (.363), won for only the fifth time in 14 games.

CARDINALS 4, REDS 2: Jason Marquis gave up only three hits while taking a shutout into the ninth inning for visiting St. Louis. A day after they pulled off the biggest ninth-inning comeback in their history - seven runs for a 10-9 win - St. Louis relied on a few well-placed hits and impeccable pitching to win another. Reggie Sanders and Abraham Nunez drove in two runs apiece.

St. Louis has the NL's best record at 17-8, getting off to a fast start after getting swept in the World Series against Boston last year. The Reds have lost a season-high six in a row.

DIAMONDBACKS 3, GIANTS 2: Tony Clark hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning for host Arizona, which stopped San Francicso's six-game winning streak. Clark has 15 RBIs in 38 at-bats and is batting .342. Javier Lopez retired two batters in the eighth for the win, and Brandon Lyon pitched a scoreless ninth for his major league leading 11th save in 12 chances.

PADRES 2, ROCKIES 1: Damian Jackson, brought back to the big leagues earlier in the day, hit an RBI double with two outs in the eighth inning. Trevor Hoffman pitched a scoreless ninth for his 399th career save and sixth in eight chances this year. He can become the third reliever in history to reach 400.

PIRATES 7, ASTROS 4: Craig Wilson had four hits, including a tiebreaking single in a three-run eighth inning. With the score 4-all, singles by Rob Mackowiak and Jason Bay and a walk to Daryle Ward loaded the bases with no outs for Wilson, who singled to left off Chad Qualls. Bobby Hill followed with a two-run double.

Winner Rick White pitched 12/3 scoreless innings, and Jose Mesa worked the ninth for his ninth save in as many chances.

BREWERS 4, CUBS 1: Carlos Lee broke a tie in the sixth inning with his second double of the game. Chris Capuano pitched a season-high seven innings for the host Brewers.

DODGERS 4, NATIONALS 2: Jeff Weaver pitched six effective innings, slumping Jason Phillips hit a two-out, two-run double in the fifth to drive in the go-ahead runs, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Washington Nationals 4-2 Tuesday night for their fourth win in five games.

[Last modified May 4, 2005, 01:27:02]