Expos Are No Match for Cone and Mets

David Cone turned back the clock and the surprising Montreal Expos, pitching five impressive innings in his first game since 2001 to lead the New York Mets to a 4-0 victory Friday night at Shea Stadium.

At 40, Cone’s comeback start was everything he and the Mets could have hoped for. Throwing every sort of breaking ball from all different angles, he held the Expos to two singles -- both by pitcher Tomo Ohka -- while striking out five and walking three.

Montreal came into New York after outscoring the Atlanta Braves, 17-2, in a season-opening three-game sweep. But Cone dominated the Expos, much the same way he did on July 18, 1999, when he pitched a perfect game against them while with the New York Yankees.

Pittsburgh 9, Philadelphia 1 -- Reggie Sanders hit a grand slam for his fourth homer in four games and the Pirates ruined in front of a sellout crowd of 59,269 in the final opener at Philadelphia.

Pittsburgh swept a season-opening three-game series against the Reds, spoiling Cincinnati’s debut of Great American Ball Park. The Pirates’ 4-0 start is their best since 1993, when they began their run of 10 consecutive years without a winning record.

Colorado 2, Arizona 1 -- Shawn Chacon retired the first 16 batters and the Rockies went on to win their home opener. He yielded one run and two hits in seven innings to win for the first time since July 19. The Diamondbacks didn’t have a baserunner until one out in the sixth, when Chad Moeller doubled to right-center.

San Francisco 7, Milwaukee 5 -- J.T. Snow drove in four runs at Milwaukee -- two in the eighth inning when he singled off shortstop Royce Clayton’s glove -- to keep the Giants unbeaten and the Brewers winless in four games.

Atlanta 12, Florida 7 -- The Braves finally got their first win of the season, scoring seven runs in the seventh inning at Atlanta.

Trailing 5-2, they started the seventh with five straight hits. Gary Sheffield had a run-scoring single, Chipper Jones hit a run-scoring double and Jones followed with a three-run homer to center.

Houston 6, St. Louis 5 -- Brad Ausmus hit a grand slam in the first inning and a solo shot in the 12th at St. Louis. With two runners on and one out in the bottom of the 12th, Brad Lidge struck out Albert Pujols and Ausmus threw out Fernando Vina trying to steal third.