Phils tighten race in NL East

PHILADELPHIA -- Scott Rolen hit two home runs off Greg Maddux (17-9) and the Philadelphia Phillies came back from baseball's six-day break to beat the Atlanta Braves 5-2 Monday night and tighten the NL East race.

The Phillies won the opener of a four-game series and closed within 2 1/2 games of Atlanta.

The Braves had won six of seven before the terrorist attacks forced the majors to postpone games.

Person (15-6) won his sixth straight decision. He allowed two runs and six hits in improving to 11-1 since losing to the New York Mets on June 5.

Jose Mesa worked the ninth for his 37th save in 40 chances.

METS 4, PIRATES 1

PITTSBURGH -- Rey Ordonez's RBI single off Mike Fetters (3-2) started a three-run ninth inning, and the Mets returned from their trying week off and beat Pittsburgh.

Wearing caps honoring the New York firefighters, police and rescue workers, plus American flags on their jerseys and hats, the Mets won for the 18th time in 23 games.

MARLINS 10, EXPOS 6

MONTREAL -- Luis Castillo's two-run triple highlighted an eight-run sixth inning as Florida beat Montreal before the smallest Olympic Stadium crowd of the season.

An announced crowd of 3,013 -- in fact, no more than 1,000 fans were actually on hand -- hushed to a silence for pregame ceremonies to honor the victims of last Tuesday's terrorist attacks.

-- From wire reports