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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Mets aren't about to get too
excited about being in first place in August.
"Being in first place is something. Staying there the rest of
the season is something else," Edgardo Alfonzo said after his
three-run homer in the first inning helped the Mets beat the
Houston Astros 4-2 Monday night to move into a tie for first in the
NL East with Atlanta.
|  | | Glendon Rusch capped a 4-0 turn by the Mets rotation with Monday's 4-2 victory. |
The Braves had held first exclusively since April 4, but lost
6-3 to Cincinnati to move back into a tie. New York has gone a major
league-best 30-15 since the All-Star break to move into first place
this late in the season for the first time since Sept. 3, 1990.
New York was in first as late as Aug. 21 last season before
finishing 6½ games behind the Braves. The Mets eventually lost to
Atlanta in six games in the NLCS.
While the Mets downplayed their move up in the standings, some
admitted to watching the scoreboard occasionally Monday night and a
few of them gathered around the television to watch the final
inning of the Braves' loss.
"At the end of the season it means something to be in first
place," Mets manager Bobby Valentine said. "But the last time I
checked, we aren't even in the final month of the season yet."
Glendon Rusch (9-10) allowed solo homers to former Met Roger
Cedeno and Richard Hidalgo, but pitched around three other
extra-base hits.
Houston's Tony Eusebio doubled to give him a team-record 24-game
hitting streak.
The Mets did all of the scoring they needed on the first five
pitches against Brian Powell (1-1). Benny Agbayani singled to
center on a 1-0 pitch and went to third when Derek Bell singled on
the next pitch to snap an 0-for-21 stretch.
Alfonzo then hit a 1-0 pitch into the seats in left center for
his 17th homer and a 3-1 Mets lead.
Rusch pitched out of trouble a few times. He left the bases
loaded in the second inning and worked around two extra-base hits
by Chris Truby.
Rusch stranded Truby after a leadoff triple in the fourth,
striking out Tim Bogar and Powell and getting a groundout from
Julio Lugo after Cedeno walked with two outs. Truby hit a one-out
double in the sixth and was left at second.
"I made some mistakes early, but I made some big pitches to get
out of jams," Rusch said. "That gave me a lot of confidence."
The left-hander allowed two runs and seven hits in seven
innings, striking out seven. Mets starters, whose 4.22 ERA is the
best in the league, improved to 4-0 with a 1.70 ERA over the last
five games -- one turn through the rotation.
New York added an insurance run in the eighth when Jay Payton
doubled, went to third on a groundout and scored when Jose Cabrera
balked. Cabrera broke his hands while standing on the rubber, and
third base umpire Dan Iassogna called the balk.
Cabrera said catcher Mitch Meluskey changed signs after Cabrera
looked at Payton at third base, causing the confusion.
"I know the way to do it is to step off the rubber and call
timeout," Cabrera said. "I just forgot."
Turk Wendell pitched two innings for his first save since July
26, 1999.
"I don't get paid to get saves, but it's always nice to have at
least one each season," he said.
Eusebio doubled in the second inning to extend his hitting
streak and break the team record held by Art Howe (1981) and Luis
Gonzalez (1997). Eusebio's streak dates to July 9, and spans 51
days and 45 overall games.
"It's amazing to do what he's done over the amount of games and
time that he's done it," teammate Jeff Bagwell said.
Eusebio wasn't as sharp in the field, however, throwing a ball
away after a walk in the second inning, allowing Mike Bordick to
get to third. Bordick was running when Powell threw a ball on 3-2
to Todd Pratt. Eusebio threw to second anyway, and the ball went
into center for an error. It didn't hurt Powell as the Mets left
the bases loaded.
Cedeno was playing at Shea Stadium for the first time since
scoring the game-winning run on Robin Ventura's grand slam single
in Game 5 of last year's NLCS against Atlanta. He led off the game
with a homer in his first at-bat in New York since he was traded
for Mike Hampton last winter.
Hidalgo hit his 33rd homer with one out in the third to make it
3-2.
Powell allowed three runs, five hits and six walks in five
innings.
Game notes
Eusebio has raised his average from .203 to .289 during the
streak. ... Mets C Mike Piazza took the day off. ... Houston is
10-18 in games started by left-handers. ... The Mets have won 18 of
22 at Shea Stadium and have a major league high 46 wins at home.
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Baseball Scoreboard
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NY Mets Clubhouse
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Tampa Bay 5
Boston 2
Cleveland 5
Texas 2
Toronto 4
Anaheim 2
Oakland 3
Chi. White Sox 0
NY Yankees 9
Seattle 1
St. Louis 5
Florida 2
Montreal 9
Arizona 5
San Francisco 5
Pittsburgh 4
NY Mets 4
Houston 2
Philadelphia 3
Colorado 2
Cincinnati 6
Atlanta 3
San Diego 8
Chicago Cubs 2
Los Angeles 5
Milwaukee 3
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Bobby Valentine felt his Mets came up big tonight.
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