Ashby, Braves Add to Mets’ Problems

The second-place New York Mets didn’t get the man, Barry Larkin, who signed a three-year contract extension with the Cincinnati Reds. Then, like rubbing salt in a wound, the first-place Atlanta Braves showed off their prize acquisition.

Andy Ashby, picked up in a trade during the All-Star break to bolster Atlanta’s rotation, pitched a four-hitter for his second complete-game victory with the Braves, 1-0 over the Mets on Sunday night at Atlanta.

Atlanta increased its lead in the National League East to six games after taking two of three in the weekend series.

“I could definitely feel the adrenaline, the crowd, the excitement,” said Ashby, who was frequently booed in Philadelphia while struggling for a last-place team. “It was exciting. I want to go to the World Series and win one. That’s what you play the game for.”

Ashby (6-7) and the Braves made sure it was a miserable day all around for the Mets, who are 2-18 at Turner Field since September 1997 and were again playing without injured second baseman Edgardo Alfonzo.

“This was very big,” Chipper Jones said. “We definitely don’t want to lose a series in our home ballpark, especially to them. We’ve played well against them here and kept them at arms’ length. If we let them win this series, all of a sudden they’ve got confidence coming in here later in the year.”

Having made a slight change in his delivery, Ashby won his fourth consecutive start. He struck out seven and walked two in his eighth career shutout, and first since July 4, 1999, while pitching for the Padres.

“Andy is very established as a No. 1 or No. 2 pitcher in any rotation,” said Wally Joyner, who drove in the game’s lone run and played with Ashby in San Diego. “Having him over here brings back some fond memories and a lot of confidence. It’s good to have him on the team.”

Ashby pitched a seven-hitter in his Atlanta debut, a 4-1 victory at Baltimore. Then, he benefited from a rainout at Florida on Wednesday, having surrendered six runs in three innings before the game was called.

The Mets’ best chance to score came in the fourth inning, when they loaded the bases with one out. But Todd Zeile hit into a double play.

Cincinnati 5, Arizona 3--Before agreeing to his three-year, $27-million contract extension, Barry Larkin went one for four and scored a run in the Reds’ victory at Cincinnati.

He also got a 30-second standing ovation when he came to bat for the first time, forcing him to back out of the batter’s box.

“I appreciate the fact that the fans seem to appreciate me,” Larkin said.

Elmer Dessens (4-0)--a reliever moved into the injury- and trade-depleted rotation--won his third consecutive start by allowing three runs and eight hits in 7 1/3 innings. Luis Gonzalez had three of the hits and Erubiel Durazo hit a solo homer in the seventh inning.

The Reds have moved within five games of the first-place St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central by winning 10 of their last 15 games.

Houston 15, St. Louis 7--Bill Spiers homered twice and drove in six runs, and the Astros hit a record-tying four homers off Andy Benes in the second inning at Houston.

Lance Berkman hit two homers as the Astros tied a team mark with six home runs in a game.

Benes (10-5) became the 17th major league pitcher to allow four home runs in one inning. It also occurred at Houston’s Enron Field on April 27 when the Chicago Cubs did it against Jose Lima.

Spiers homered in the second inning and had a grand slam in the seventh. His third career grand slam gave him a career high in RBIs.

The Cardinals were without Mark McGwire, who is still recovering from tendinitis in his right knee, J.D. Drew, out because of an ankle injury, and Eduardo Perez, who had an excused absence to see his father Tony inducted into the Hall of Fame. Ray Lankford was not in the starting lineup after returning from attending his brother’s funeral, but was later put in the game.

Philadelphia 4, Pittsburgh 1--Curt Schilling pitched a three-hitter and Tom Prince-- who hit only two homers in Three Rivers Stadium when he played for the Pirates for seven seasons--hit two in a game there for the Phillies.

Prince, who hadn’t homered since Sept. 2, 1997 and had only 11 homers in 14 major league seasons, hit a three-run shot off Todd Ritchie (5-6) on a full-count pitch in the second inning. Prince had a solo homer--also off Ritchie--in the seventh and finished with a career-high four RBIs.

Montreal 7, Florida 6--The Expos swept a three-game series on the road for the first time in nearly five years.

The Expos last swept a road series of three or more games Aug. 8-10, 1995, at Houston. They did sweep a two-game set in New York against the Mets in 1998.

Fernando Seguignol went three for four, Geoff Blum went two for five, and both hit homers for the Expos.

Chicago 5, Milwaukee 4--Ismael Valdes won for the first time in eight starts and Eric Young and Mark Grace each drove in two runs at Chicago.

Valdes (2-4) bothered by blisters all season--won for the first time since May 19. Rick Aguilera pitched the ninth for his 21st save in 28 chances.