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Maine stars as Mets win at last

The Los Angeles Dodgers' Hu Chin-lung, left, from Taiwan, scores a run as San Francisco Giants' catcher Eliezer Alfonzo takes the low throw during the fourth inning of the baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday. PHOTO: AP

John Maine flirted with the first no-hitter in Mets history before allowing an infield single to Paul Hoover with two outs in the eighth inning, and New York snapped out of its September doldrums by routing the Florida Marlins 13-0 in a fight-filled game on Saturday.

Maine (15-10) finished with 14 strikeouts, the most by a Mets pitcher in eight years, and departed to a raucous ovation long after Florida catcher Miguel Olivo charged across the diamond and threw a punch at Jose Reyes in the fifth -- setting off a bench-clearing brawl.

Once order was restored, the Mets stayed alive in the playoff race by snapping a five-game skid that cost them their National League East lead.

After blowing a seven-game cushion with 17 to play and falling a game behind Philadelphia, New York entered Saturday with a chance to suddenly be eliminated from postseason contention.

Lastings Milledge homered twice, Ramon Castro also connected and Luis Castillo had three key hits for the Mets, who had lost eight straight home games and 11 of 15 overall -- putting them in danger of completing one of the worst collapses in baseball history.

Brewers 4, Padres 3, 11 innings

At Milwaukee, Tony Gwynn Jr hit a tying, two-out triple off Trevor Hoffman in the ninth inning, and Vinny Rottino singled in Ryan Braun off Joe Thatcher (2-2) in the 11th as Milwaukee beat San Diego.

The Padres' loss clinched the NL West for Arizona and gave the Diamondbacks home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs.

Dodgers 6, Giants 5, 10 innings

At Los Angeles, pinch-hitter Luis Gonzalez singled home the winning run in the 10th inning for Los Angeles.

Juan Pierre also had a season-high three RBIs for Los Angeles, which finished with 14 hits.

Andy LaRoche beat out an infield hit to shortstop leading off the 10th against San Francisco's Dan Giese (0-2), who was relieved by Jack Taschner after Taiwan's Hu Chin-lung advanced LaRoche with a sacrifice. Gonzalez then lined a 2-2 pitch to left-center to drive in LaRoche.

Cubs 4, Reds 0

At Cincinnati, Rich Hill allowed only one hit in six innings and Matt Murton and Ronny Cedeno hit solo homers as the NL Central champion Chicago tuned up for the playoffs.

Hill (11-8) gave up Buck Coats' two-out double in the sixth -- Cincinnati's only hit of the game -- then left for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the inning. The left-hander had his way with a lineup that took a get-it-over-with approach.

The Reds lost for the 90th time even though top starter Aaron Harang (16-6) was facing a lineup missing most of its regulars.

In other National League action on Saturday it was:

* Cardinals 7, Pirates 3

* Rockies 11, Diamondbacks 1

* Astros 3, Braves 2

* Nationals 4, Phillies 2

With manager Mike Scioscia resting many of his regulars, Kelvim Escobar earned his 18th victory and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Oakland Athletics 3-2 on Saturday.

It was the defending division champion Athletics' fifth straight defeat and 10th in 11 games.

Juan Rivera and Erick Aybar each hit RBI singles and Jeff Mathis added a sacrifice fly for the Angels, who saw Bartolo Colon make his first relief appearance in 10 years.

Colon came out of the bullpen for the first time since Sept. 27, 1997, and pitched a perfect seventh with two strikeouts. Scot Shields allowed Dan Johnson's RBI single in the eighth, then Francisco Rodriguez finished for his 40th save and second in as many games.

Escobar (18-7) won his third straight decision and seventh in eight after having his last turn skipped. He allowed five hits and one run in six innings, struck out four and walked two.

Red Sox 6, Twins 4

At Boston, J.D. Drew went 3-for-4 and connected for a go-ahead, three-run homer for Boston against Minnesota, a day after the Red Sox clinched their first division title in 12 years.

Tim Wakefield (17-12) allowed four runs and six hits in seven innings for the Red Sox after going 0-2 with a 10.70 ERA in his previous four starts.

Hideki Okajima pitched the ninth for his fifth save in seven chances. The Twins put runners at first and third before Okajima struck out Justin Morneau and got Michael Cuddyer to ground into a double play.

Carlos Silva pitched six solid innings for Minnesota and left with a 4-2 lead, but Boston scored four runs in the seventh off Nick Blackburn (0-2).

Yankees 11, Orioles 10

At Baltimore, Shelley Duncan homered to cap a 10-run fourth inning, and a host of New York backups feasted on Baltimore pitching.

The Yankees trailed 6-1 before nine straight batters reached to open the fourth. Duncan, Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano each had two RBIs in the inning.

Blue Jays 5, Devil Rays 3

At Toronto, Adam Lind hit a three-run homer, John-Ford Griffin added a solo shot as Toronto beat Tampa Bay.

Toronto broke a 1-all tie with a four-run eighth against reliever Dan Wheeler (0-5). Reed Johnson started the rally by reaching base on a throwing error, Matt Stairs walked and Russ Adams, pinch hitting for Frank Thomas, bunted down the third base line. Wheeler fielded the ball and threw to Joel Guzman, but he couldn't find first base with his foot.

In other American League action on Saturday it was:

* White Sox 3, Tigers 2

* Mariners 5, Rangers 1

* Royals 4, Indians 3
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