Crawford Is Quite a Relief for Mets

NEW YORK —  Joe Crawford relieved Bobby Jones after a long rain delay and got his first victory Friday night as the New York Mets defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 4-3.

Crawford (1-1) pitched 4 1/3 innings after replacing Jones, who gave up a homer to Ed Taubensee in the second inning before the game was halted for 1 hour 28 minutes by a thunderstorm.

Crawford, making only his seventh appearance, gave up two runs and three hits in tying the longest stint of his brief career.

John Franco pitched 1 2/3 innings for his 24th save. In the eighth, he came in with two runners on and one out, and retired the next two.

Franco gave up a leadoff double in the ninth, but Hal Morris bunted too hard on a sacrifice attempt and Franco held Willie Greene at second. Franco then struck out Joe Oliver looking and got Bret Boone to swing at a pitch in the dirt for the final out.

The Mets have been involved in six consecutive one-run games, going 3-3.

Trailing, 2-0, the Mets scored four runs in the third inning helped by two Cincinnati errors on one play.

Lance Johnson walked leading off, and with two outs, John Olerud hit a fly ball down the left-field line that Deion Sanders misplayed for a two-base error.

Sanders relayed the ball to shortstop Pokey Reese, who then overthrew catcher Taubensee, allowing Johnson to score and Olerud to take third.

Todd Hundley walked and Edgardo Alfonzo singled to score Olerud. Butch Huskey then hit a two-run double.

Mike Morgan (3-7) lost for the third time in four decisions, giving up four runs and four hits in five innings.

Taubensee’s seventh homer of the season gave the Reds a 1-0 lead in the second inning.

Jones, whose strong start earned him an All-Star selection, failed for the fifth time to get his 13th victory.