Olerud’s Homer Helps Mets Split

John Olerud’s go-ahead, three-run homer in the eighth inning Tuesday night helped the New York Mets defeat the Houston Astros, 8-4, for a doubleheader split at Houston that kept the Mets close in the National League wild-card race.

The Mets, who still fell a half-game behind the Chicago Cubs in the wild-card race, overcame a two-run deficit in the ninth inning of the opener but lost, 6-5, on Derek Bell’s homer in the 12th.

The Mets trailed in the eighth inning of the nightcap, 3-2, before rallying against three relievers. Edgardo Alfonzo drew a leadoff walk from C.J. Nitkowski, Mike Piazza singled against Jay Powell (7-6) and Olerud homered against Mike Magnante.

Olerud did not start. He entered the game in the fifth as a defensive replacement and later hit his 20th home run.

The Astros closed to 5-4 in the eighth on a wild pitch by Al Leiter (16-5). Turk Wendell relieved with a runner on second and got three out to preserve the lead, then pitched the ninth for his third save.

Olerud added a sacrifice fly in a three-run ninth. Alfonzo hit an RBI single and another run scored on Doug Henry’s wild pitch.

In the opener, Bell’s leadoff homer in the ninth against Jeff Tam (1-1) enabled the Astros to win in their final at-bat for the 26th time this season.

Atlanta 3, Philadelphia 0--Kevin Millwood, making the most of what was planned as his final start of 1998, pitched seven shutout innings at Atlanta. Millwood (16-8) will move to the bullpen as the Braves begin preparing for the playoffs.

Florida 7, Montreal 4--Randy Knorr hit a two-run triple and Mark Kotsay went four for five with two RBIs at Montreal as the Marlins won for only the third time in their last 19 games.

Cincinnati 5, Milwaukee 1--Barry Larkin and Bret Boone homered and Mike Remlinger pitched six strong innings for the Reds at Cincinnati.

Arizona 7, San Francisco 6--Travis Lee’s run-scoring single in the bottom of the 11th gave the Diamondbacks the victory at Phoenix.