Beckett return strong but brief

MIAMI - Josh Beckett pitched six one-hit innings before leaving with a possible recurrence of his blister problem, and Miguel Cabrera and Juan Encarnacion homered to help the Marlins beat the Atlanta Braves 6-2 Thursday night in a game delayed nearly three hours by rain.

Beckett was activated from the disabled list a few hours before the game; the right-hander hadn't pitched since June 14 because of the sixth blister problem of his career. He left before starting the seventh after another blister apparently formed on his right middle finger.

He summoned pitching coach Mark Wiley and a trainer, who examined the finger. Wiley then motioned to the bullpen for rookie left-hander Scott Olsen, who was charged with both Atlanta runs in his second major-league appearance.

Cabrera's homer, his 16th of the season and fifth against Atlanta, highlighted Florida's three-run first against Roman Colon. Encarnacion hit his 11th, and second in as many nights, in the second inning.

Mike Lowell hit a two-run single, Luis Castillo had two hits to give him six in his past two games and Juan Pierre had two hits and two runs for the Marlins, who are 2-0 under interim manager Harry Dunlop. Manager Jack McKeon, who has been away because of a death in the family, rejoins the team today.

METS 5, PHILLIES 3: Pedro Martinez won for the seventh time in his past eight decisions and Jose Reyes drove in two with his major league-leading ninth triple to lead host New York.

Reyes also turned an acrobatic double play in the eighth on Tomas Perez's grounder to second baseman Marlon Anderson.

Chris Woodward drove in two with a bases-loaded single as the Mets sent slumping Philadelphia to its sixth loss in seven games. The Phillies have lost 11 of 15 since a 12-1 homestand.

Martinez allowed two runs and five hits in six innings, walked two and struck out six. He has 2,776 strikeouts, moving him past Frank Tanana (2,773) into 17th place all-time.

NATIONALS 7, PIRATES 5: Former Devil Ray Vinny Castilla and Brian Schneider homered as Washington capped a three-game sweep with its 15th win in its past 16 home games and its ninth series win in a row at RFK Stadium.

The East leaders set a franchise record with 20 wins in June.

Chad Cordero wiggled out of a second-and-third, no-out jam in the ninth for his 25th straight save and 28th overall. He retired Ryan Doumit on a routine fly with the bases loaded for the final out.

ROCKIES 7, CARDINALS 0: Rookie Jeff Francis pitched six three-hit innings and Garrett Atkins and Danny Ardoin homered to lead Colorado to its sixth road victory of the season. Francis had two hits and two runs for the Rockies, a major league-worst 6-31 on the road.

BREWERS 10, CUBS 6: Carlos Lee homered twice, including a first-inning drive off Greg Maddux, and visiting Milwaukee avoided a three-game sweep. Lee, who also homered in the eighth off Michael Wuertz, has 22 homers and leads the majors with 72 RBIs.

ASTROS 2, REDS 2 (7): Ken Griffey singled home a tying run in the fourth, and the second storm of the evening forced host Cincinnati and Houston to settle for a tie. The game will be replayed from the start Saturday as part of a doubleheader.

GIANTS 9, D'BACKS 2: Lance Niekro hit a three-run homer and winning pitcher Noah Lowry singled in two runs to help San Francisco to its first three-game sweep at Arizona in five years.

[Last modified July 1, 2005, 01:24:21]