Mets Get Belle Rung, Lose 4-1

Sidney Ponson is one of few players the Baltimore Orioles consider to be untouchable as the July 31 trade deadline nears.

The young right-hander showed why Tuesday night.

Ponson pitched a six-hitter for his AL-high fifth complete game and Albert Belle hit his 20th homer as the Orioles beat the New York Mets 4-1 to avert a three-game sweep.

"We ran up against a buzz saw. How do you pronounce his name? Ponson? That's a good pitcher," Mets manager Bobby Valentine said. "When he was in trouble, he threw his best. Every opportunity we had, he snuffed it with good pitches."

Ponson, 22, didn't throw a complete game in 20 starts as a rookie last year. He started with six losses in seven decisions but has gone 16-9 since then.

"The guys are playing good behind me, I'm throwing strikes and I'm concentrating more," he said. "I'm still young and still learning. I'm just happy to be throwing the ball well right now."

Ponson outpitched Al Leiter (8-7), who gave up four runs, eight hits and four walks in five innings. Leiter was 6-1 with a 2.93 ERA in his previous eight starts, but he needed 30 pitches to get out of the first inning and struggled with his control throughout.

"His biggest problem was that he was not throwing strikes," Valentine said. "He threw a lot of pitches, really labored. He was missing on the inside of the plate."

Belle, batting .243 with runners in scoring position coming in, was booed by many of the fans at Camden Yards during his first three trips to the plate. But a majority of the 45,450 people stood and cheered when his two-run shot in the fourth inning gave Baltimore a 4-1 lead.

Rich Amaral had two hits and two stolen bases for the Orioles, who finished 11-7 in interleague play.

Baltimore manager Ray Miller was ejected in the first inning after Amaral was called out at third base othe front end of a double steal. Amaral beat the throw, but replays showed that third baseman Robin Ventura blocked the base. Miller bolted from the dugout immediately after the call and was tossed by umpire Rick Reed after an argument.

The Mets, who came in with an NL-best .988 fielding percentage, made two errors and gave up an unearned run. New York went 12-6 against the AL.

The Orioles used a three-run fourth to take a 4-1 lead. Ryan Minor and Amaral singled before Mike Bordick hit a sacrifice fly. One out later, with Amaral on third, Belle lined an 0-1 pitch into the left-field seats.

That proved to be more than enough support for Ponson, who didn't allow a runner past second base after the third inning.

"He's got great stuff," Miller said. "He's going to make mistakes by being aggressive, but each time out you learn something about yourself. I really liked his poise out there tonight."

Ponson showed much less emotion that Miller, whose tirade left him no choice but to watch the final eight innings on the television in his office.

Minutes after Miller's ejection, the Orioles went ahead 1-0 when Leiter hit Will Clark with a pitch after two straight walks loaded the bases.

The Mets drew even in the third on a two-out double by Rickey Henderson and a single by Edgardo Alfonzo.

Notes: