Mets prove strength at home

Rookie Ike Davis and Rod Barajas both homered twice, with Barajas hitting his second in the ninth inning to give the New York Mets a 6-4 win over the San Francisco Giants in the National League on Friday, notching their eighth straight home win. Davis hit solo homers in the second and fourth innings for the first multihomer game of his major league career and did a 360 degree flip into the dugout to catch a foul ball to end the top of the ninth with runners at the corners.

Davis also started the winning rally, walking with one out in the bottom of the ninth against Sergio Romo (0-3). Barajas then hit a high drive down the left-field line for his ninth homer this season. Francisco Rodriguez (2-0) was handed a 4-3 lead in the top of the ninth but allowed a tying solo homer to John Bowker. Cardinals 4, Pirates 3 In Pittsburgh, Yadier Molina doubled in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning with his fourth hit, lifting St Louis over Pittsburgh.

The Cardinals took advantage of several Pirates defensive lapses and a key fielding mistake. Joe Mather, pinch running in the ninth after Matt Holliday singled off Evan Meek (1-1) for his fourth hit, arrived well behind the throw as he tried to steal second, but snuck his right hand in ahead of Aki Iwamura's tag. Molina followed with his double. St Louis' Ryan Franklin (2-0) got the final four outs for the victory despite throwing a tying wild pitch in a wild eighth inning, when five of the Pirates' six batters reached base but only one scored.

Dodgers 6, Rockies 5 In Los Angeles, Matt Kemp tripled in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning, ending a 14-game RBI drought and lifting Los Angeles over Colorado. Dodgers reliever Jeff Weaver (1-1) pitched one-third of an inning with a walk to earn the victory on his return from a back strain. LA closer Jonathan Broxton gave up a lead-off single in the ninth but finished with two strike-outs to earn his second save.

Colorado's Matt Daley (0-1) was the loser. Phillies 7, Braves 0 In Philadelpia, the 47-year-old Jamie Moyer became the oldest player in major league history to throw a shut-out as Philadelphia beat Atlanta. Phil Niekro was the previous oldest at 46 years, 188 days when he tossed a four-hitter for the New York Yankees in 1986. Moyer (4-2) struck out five and faced one batter over the minimum to earn his 262nd career victory. He allowed only two hits, both lead-off singles to Troy Glaus in the second and eighth innings. He recorded his 10th career shut-out and 32nd complete game.

Braves starter Derek Lowe (4-3) allowed seven runs in five innings. Marlins 4, Nationals 2 In Washington, Gaby Sanchez hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning as Florida beat Washington to snap a three-game skid. Bryan Petersen singled in his major league debut, starting the decisive rally against Brian Bruney (1-2). Petersen moved to second when Bruney fumbled a bunt attempt and Sanchez followed with a looper to right-centre, making it 3-2. After an intentional walk to Hanley Ramirez, Jorge Cantu's sacrifice fly made it 4-2.

Marlins starter Chris Volstad (3-2) went seven innings, yielding two runs. Cubs 14, Reds 7 In Cincinnati, Starlin Castro arrived in the majors in style, hitting a three-run homer in his first at-bat and driving in a record six runs during Chicago's victory over Cincinnati. The 20-year-old was called up from the minors, becoming the youngest shortstop in Cubs history. His home run off Homer Bailey (0-2) made him the sixth player in Cubs history to connect in his first at-bat. He added a bases-loaded triple, becoming the first player in the modern day to get six RBIs on debut.

Carlos Silva (3-0) struggled in the win. Brewers 3, Diamondbacks 2 In Phoenix, Yovani Gallardo struck out 10 in five innings to help Milwaukee edge Arizona. Gallardo (4-2), who struck out five in a row at one point, has reached double digits in strike-outs in three of his past four starts. He allowed three hits in his fourth straight win. Rickie Weeks and Jim Edmonds homered for Milwaukee and Ryan Braun scored the tiebreaking run on a wild pitch in the fifth inning.

Trevor Hoffman pitched the ninth inning for his fifth save in nine attempts. Arizona's Edwin Jackson (1-4) dropped his third straight decision, allowing three runs in seven innings. Padres 7, Astros 0 In Houston, Mat Latos struck out a career-high nine in eight shutout innings as San Diego routed Houston. Latos (2-3) allowed only two hits without a walk, and also drove in a run for the Padres, who snapped a five-game losing streak at Houston.

Scott Hairston homered twice for San Diego and Chase Headley hit a two-run homer for the Padres. Houston starter Bud Norris (1-4) struck out seven, but otherwise struggled in four innings, giving up four runs. *AP