Generous Cards fall Mets score winner on error, passed ball

ST. LOUIS -- Al Leiter allowed one run in seven innings, winning for the first time in four starts, and Mo Vaughn homered as the New York Mets silenced the slumping St. Louis Cardinals 2-1 Friday night.

The NL Central-leading Cardinals have lost eight of nine and totaled one run in five of the last six games. The exception was a 5-3 victory over Montreal on Thursday that ended their season-worst seven-game losing streak.

St. Louis has been outscored 50-20 during its slump.

Reliever Mike Matthews (2-1) handed the Mets the go-ahead run in the sixth.

After walking Roger Cedeno with two outs, Matthews had him picked off but threw wildly to first for an error. Cedeno advanced to third and, with Rey Ordonez at the plate, scored on a wild pitch.

Cardinals catcher Mike Matheny was crossed up on the pitch, setting up on the outside corner for a delivery that was well inside.

Vaughn hit his 19th home run in the fourth for the Mets.

Eduardo Perez hit his eighth leading off the second for the Cardinals, the only damage against Leiter.

The Mets have won three of four to move a game above .500 at 58-57.

New York pitchers have allowed one run the last two games. Steve Trachsel shut out the Brewers 9-0 Thursday night.

Leiter (10-8) allowed 14 runs in 16 innings his three previous starts, going 0-1, but entered with an NL-leading 2.03 ERA at night. He gave up five hits, with two strikeouts and three walks.

David Weathers worked the eighth, and Armando Benitez finished for his 27th save in 30 chances.

Perez made the defensive play of the game when he robbed Mike Piazza of a two-run homer with a leaping catch at the right-field wall for the second out of the fifth, cradling the ball in the crook of his left arm after bobbling it on the way down.

Perez also robbed Timo Perez of a hit with a diving catch of his liner in the seventh, turning it into a double play.