Piazza Breaks Out of Slump

Kris Benson and Mike Cameron made their 2005 debuts and Mike Piazza ended a long slump in the Mets’ 7-5 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday at New York.

“You have a good feel of where you can go from there,” Manager Willie Randolph said.

“Everyone making a contribution and the fact that we, for the first time all year, had most of our guys here, is just really encouraging.”

In a one-for-21 slide coming in, Piazza had four hits, including a three-run homer off Tim Worrell in the eighth that put New York ahead, 7-2. Piazza, who raised his average from .198 to .231, said teammate Doug Mientkiewicz told him during Wednesday night’s game not to get discouraged, that there was plenty of time left. Those remarks helped the 11-time All-Star relax.

“I don’t want to say I was feeling sorry for myself, but I was close to it,” Piazza said.

Piazza’s homer turned out to be important because Jimmy Rollins hit a three-run shot off Mike DeJean in the ninth before Braden Looper struck out Pat Burrell with a runner on for his sixth save, his second in less than 24 hours.

Benson, on the disabled list since the start of the season because of a strained chest muscle, gave up two runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Cameron, the center fielder before Carlos Beltran was signed during the off-season, doubled twice and also made an error in right field when he slipped running down a single.

San Diego 8, St. Louis 3 -- Brian Giles had four hits and five RBIs at St. Louis in the victory over the Cardinals, who turned the first triple play in the majors this season.

Giles ended an 0-for-22 slump by hitting a three-run homer and going four for five, including an eighth-inning single that drove in the go-ahead run.

Chris Hammond (3-0) escaped a bases-loaded situation in the seventh to help the Padres end an 11-game losing streak in St. Louis with their first victory at Busch Stadium since Aug. 28, 2001.

Pittsburgh 6, Arizona 2 -- Jose Castillo, playing for the first time since April 6, had three hits -- including a solo homer and an RBI triple -- and scored twice to lead the Pirates at Phoenix.

Jason Bay and Jack Wilson also had solo homers, and Dave Williams (2-3) ended his three-game losing streak by holding the Diamondbacks to two runs in a season-high seven innings. He walked three and struck out three.

Milwaukee 6, Chicago 5 -- Carlos Lee’s bloop single with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning at Milwaukee gave the Brewers their seventh victory in a row.

Brady Clark led off the ninth with an infield single against reliever LaTroy Hawkins (1-2) and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by pinch-hitter Jeff Cirillo.

After Geoff Jenkins struck out, Lee sent a soft fly to shallow right that second baseman Jerry Hairston couldn’t reach.

Chicago lost its fifth in a row to fall a season-low three games under .500.

Atlanta 9, Houston 3 -- John Thomson pitched a three-hitter and Adam LaRoche had a career-high four RBIs at Atlanta.

LaRoche has seven RBIs over the last two games. Coming off a three-double performance in the previous game, he hit a three-run homer over the center-field wall in the first inning.

Thomson (3-2) gave up two runs in the first but retired 27 of the last 29 batters he faced. He also had an RBI single in the sixth, when the Braves blew open the game with their second four-run inning.