Hampton Is the Real Deal

The New York Mets thought they were acquiring an ace when they traded for Mike Hampton. On Tuesday, he reminded them they were right.

Hampton gave up six hits in 8 2/3 innings to lead the Mets over the Pirates, 2-0, at Pittsburgh.

“It’s nice to win,� he said. “It’s nice to go out when the team needed me and do a good job. It’s just a small step. The key tonight was feeling comfortable and keeping my focus.�

Hampton (3-4) struggled in his first seven starts for New York, compiling a 6.52 earned-run average and walking 36 in 38 2/3 innings.

Tom Seaver, a broadcaster and occasional instructor for the Mets, spoke with Hampton for 15 minutes in the clubhouse last Saturday. Whatever they said seemed to work.

“There’s adjustments you have to make in a season and in a career,� Hampton said. “Talking to Tom Seaver, he told me some of the greatest pitchers in the world have had this. You have to go out, concentrate and relax. That’s the biggest thing.�

Montreal 3, Philadelphia 2--Vladimir Guerrero led off the ninth inning with a homer and Terry Jones’ RBI infield single capped a three-run rally at Montreal.

Trailing 2-0, Guerrero hit his 10th homer against Wayne Gomes (1-3). Lee Stevens walked and was forced at second on Chris Widger’s grounder to third.

Mike Mordecai doubled to the left-field corner to score Widger from first with the tying run. Mordecai advanced to third on Orlando Cabrera’s grounder and then scored the winning run when Jones beat out a high chopper to second baseman Mickey Morandini.

Houston 13, Colorado 8--Ken Caminiti hit a grand slam and Craig Biggio had a bases-loaded triple as the Astros rallied from a six-run deficit to win at Houston.

In the fifth inning, Caminiti hit a 1-and-1 pitch from Scott Karl over the left-field fence for his eighth homer and sixth career grand slam. Caminiti’s 1,000th hit with Houston cut the lead to 7-6.

Atlanta 10, Florida 5--Javy Lopez hit a grand slam to cap Atlanta’s five-run first inning at Miami as the Braves ended a losing streak at three games.

John Burkett (1-2) gave up two runs and six hits in six innings for his first win with Atlanta.

The Braves tied their season high in runs. They beat Philadelphia 10-1 on April 19.

Cincinnati 2, San Diego 0--Steve Parris pitched six scoreless innings and hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly at Cincinnati.

Second baseman Bret Boone’s error in the sixth accounted for the other run.

Cincinnati’s Dante Bichette hit into double plays in his first three at-bats, and the clubs combined to strand 14 runners in scoring position.

Milwaukee 4, Chicago 3--Henry Blanco hit a game-winning sacrifice fly in the eighth inning at Chicago.

Ismael Valdes, making his second start for the Cubs, looked strong for five-plus innings, striking out eight. But he was pulled in the top of the sixth with tightness in his right hamstring.

St. Louis 13, San Francisco 6--Fernando Vina hit a three-run inside-the-park homer as the Cardinals scored eight runs in the second inning at San Francisco.

Edgar Renteria and Ray Lankford added solo homers, J.D. Drew and Craig Paquette had two-run doubles and Mark McGwire had an RBI single and scored twice for the Cardinals, who had 15 hits.