NEW YORK, May 6 (UPI) -- Tony Clark and Vance Wilson hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and Pedro Astacio pitched six effective innings Tuesday night as the New York Mets posted a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
New York played without starting first baseman Mo Vaughn, who is on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his left knee and catcher Mike Piazza, who sat out with a abdomen injury. With the duo on the bench, Clark, Wilson and the bottom of lineup stepped up.
Clark snapped a 1-1 tie with his team-leading sixth homer and Wilson made it a two-run lead with his third homer. Along with Tsuyoshi Shinjo and Rey Sanchez, the fifth through eighth hitters in the lineup were a combined 7-for-14 as the Mets won for the third time in four games following a five-game slide.
Staked to the lead, Astacio (2-1) bounced back from his worst outing of the season, allowing two runs and four hits. The veteran righthander struck out five and walked three before New York's bullpen took over.
Four relievers combined to allow one hit in three scoreless innings. Armando Benitez needed just 11 pitches in a perfect ninth to notch his 10th save in 14 opportunites.
Los Angeles starter Odalis Perez (1-2) failed to build on his first victory of the season, surrendering three runs and nine hits in six innings.
