NEW YORK, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- Eric Stults gave up a run and only two hits in six innings Sunday afternoon as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Mets, 9-1.
Nomar Garciaparra hit a three-run homer and had two hits and four RBI; Kenny Lofton hit a three-run triple; Rafael Furcal hit an RBI single and had two runs and three hits; and Wilson Betemit hit a sacrifice fly for the Dodgers (76-67), who have split their last 10 games.
Stults (1-0) walked two batters and struck out three.
Jose Reyes hit a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth to end the day for Stults, and two other players each had one hit for the Mets (88-54), who have split their last four games.
Losing pitcher Steve Trachsel (14-7) surrendered four runs and five hits in 2 2/3 innings.
New York's magic number for clinching a National League playoff spot remained at five games.
