Mets solo act topples Reds 4-2

CINCINNATI -- Mike Piazza, Edgardo Alfonzo and Roberto Alomar hit solo home runs, and the New York Mets took advantage of a missed call in a 4-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds Friday night.

The Mets led 3-1 in the fifth when the Reds loaded the bases with one out.

Austin Kearns then hit a high fly and left fielder Timo Perez jumped as he approached the fence. The ball hit about three feet above Perez, caromed off the wall and bounced right into his glove.

But the play was ruled a catch, with Perez holding his glove aloft, and he threw back to second base to double off Todd Walker before Brady Clark could tag up and score.

Piazza and Alfonzo homered in the fourth off knuckleballer Jared Fernandez (1-1). Pedro Astacio (10-3) allowed six hits in seven innings.

Cubs 5, Astros 0

CHICAGO -- Rookie Mark Prior scattered two hits and struck out eight, and Moises Alou homered against his old team as the Chicago beat Houston.

Alex Gonzalez drove in two runs, and slumping Corey Patterson added an RBI for the Cubs, 6-2 since the All-Star break.

Nelson Cruz (1-5) struck out a career-high eight and allowed only two hits in 5 1-3 innings. But one of those hits was Alou's solo homer, all the Cubs needed to back Prior (4-2) in the longest outing of his major league career.

Marlins 4, Expos 2

MIAMI -- Florida ended an eight-game losing streak, winning for the first time since the All-Star break as Michael Tejera beat Montreal.

Tejera (6-2) won his fifth straight decision at home, giving up two runs in six innings. Vladimir Nunez pitched two innings for his 19th save.

Florida scored three runs in the fifth against starter Javier Vazquez (7-6) to take a 4-2 lead.

-- From wire reports