NL | Mets score five in ninth to shock Chicago

NEW YORK - Carlos Delgado's two-run single capped a five-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning and set off a wild celebration at home plate, as the New York Mets startled the Chicago Cubs, 6-5, yesterday.

Manager Willie Randolph started a makeshift lineup because the Mets' rain-delayed, 8-1 win Wednesday night ended at 12:53 a.m. David Wright, Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes were among those scheduled to have a day off.

Instead, Wright and Beltran contributed as pinch-hitters and the Mets, boosted by key hits from Carlos Gomez, Ruben Gotay and David Newhan, pulled off their biggest ninth-inning comeback since 1999.

The previous time the Mets overcame a four-run deficit in the ninth to win was May 23, 1999, when they scored five times off Curt Schilling to beat the Phillies, 5-4, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Nationals 4, Braves 3

WASHINGTON - Felipe Lopez stopped an 0-for-13 skid with a single, a double and go-ahead triple as Washington came back to beat Atlanta.

Last-place Washington has won six of its last seven games, including three of four against Atlanta.

Pirates 7, Marlins 2

PITTSBURGH - Pittsburgh tied a team record with four sacrifice flies and took advantage of a team-record-tying five Florida errors for the win.

Ronny Paulino had three RBIs and Shawn Chacon (1-0) pitched five shutout innings out of the bullpen for the Pirates, who earned a split of the four-game series.

The Bucs tied a club record set Sept. 9, 1988, against the Phillies with four sacrifice flies. It was the third time the Marlins had made five errors in a game.

Diamondbacks 3, Rockies 1

DENVER - Livan Hernandez allowed four hits over seven innings, singled twice, and scored a run in Arizona's victory over Colorado.

The win gave the Diamondbacks two victories in the three-game series and their sixth series win of the year.

Giants 2, Astros 1

HOUSTON - Randy Winn beat out a grounder off Brad Lidge to score Pedro Feliz in the 12th inning, helping San Francisco avoid a three-game sweep.

Astros ace Roy Oswalt and Giants rookie Tim Lincecum put on an impressive duel through the first seven innings, but neither figured in the decision. Oswalt had a no-hitter through 52/3 innings, while the 22-year-old Lincecum struck out 10 in his third career start.