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Wednesday, September 13, 2000

Red Sox, Mets gain
vital ground

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Associated Press

CLEVELAND - Just like last year, the Boston Red are coming back on the Cleveland Indians.

With just 2 1/2 weeks left in the season, Boston gained a game in the AL wild card standings and picked up some momentum on Cleveland with an 8-6 win last night over the Indians.

It was the first of eight games in 10 days for the teams who have met in the playoffs the past two years. Last October, the Red Sox overcame a 2-0 deficit to beat Cleveland in the first-round division series.

"For some reason, we've had some success here," outfielder Darren Lewis said. "We try not to get too caught up in the numbers, or why something happens. But these games are very important and we won the first one."

Dante Bichette hit a two-run homer in the third inning as the Red Sox moved within two games of Cleveland for the wild card lead.

BENNY BATS 'EM IN:

In National League action at New York, Hawaii's Benny Agbayani hit a solo homer and also scored on his own two-run single when Milwaukee made two bad throws as the Mets' bats awoke from their silent September to beat the Brewers, 10-2.

New York had scored only 30 runs in losing eight of 10 to open this month.

Despite the slow September, New York is within two games of first-place Atlanta in the NL East and 4 1/2 ahead of Arizona for the wild card. The Braves lost to Florida, 5-4, yesterday.