The Associated Press

NEW YORK - Ty Wigginton and Mike Cameron drove in two runs apiece, and the New York Mets spoiled pitcher A.J. Burnett's return to the majors Thursday night with a 4-1 victory over the Florida Marlins.

Jae Seo (3-4) worked six innings, allowing just three hits to earn the victory, the Mets' fourth in a row. Mike Stanton threw two scoreless innings, and Braden Looper pitched a perfect ninth for his 11th save. The victory moved the Mets one game over .500 at 27-26, and just 2 1/2 games behind the first-place Marlins in the NL East.

It was the fourth straight loss for Florida since the Marlins swept a three-game series from New York last weekend.

Burnett, coming back from elbow ligament surgery, pitched four innings and allowed two runs in the second inning, when the Mets had three straight hits.

The game was the first for Burnett (0-1) since April 25, 2003, against St. Louis. He had the ligament in his right elbow replaced four days later.

Manager Jack McKeon said before the game that he didn't know what to expect from Burnett, whose last major league victory came on Aug. 18, 2002, when he threw a three-hit shutout against San Francisco.

"I have no idea what we'll get," McKeon said before the game. "I'd like seven innings. That's what I'd like."

Instead, he got four credible ones, not unreasonable for a first time back on a major-league mound in over 13 months. Burnett allowed five hits, struck out four and walked none. He threw 83 pitches, 48 for strikes.

Cardinals 4, Pirates 2

PITTSBURGH - Scott Rolen had three hits and two RBI in his return to the lineup two days after he was hit in the helmet with a pitch, leading St. Louis past Pittsburgh.

Woody Williams (3-5) pitched six scoreless innings as the Cardinals swept the four-game series, and improved to 19-9 on the road, best in the National League. No team has won more games at PNC Park than the Cardinals, who are 22-6 there.

Both managers were ejected with two outs in the ninth when Pirates reliever Mike Gonzalez sent Tony Womack to the dirt with a high, inside pitch. Before the next pitch, Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon stormed out of the dugout and headed toward the Cardinals dugout to confront opposing manager Tony La Russa.

Plate umpire Brian Gorman and first-base umpire Dale Scott tried to restrain McClendon, who forged ahead. La Russa came onto the field, and the umpires stood between the managers as they exchanged heated words along the first-base line near the Cardinals dugout. The benches and bullpens emptied, and there was physical contact but no players were ejected.

Braves 8, Phillies 4

ATLANTA - Julio Franco became the oldest player in major-league history to hit a grand slam, connecting in the first inning to lead Atlanta past Philadelphia.

Johnny Estrada finished a triple short of the cycle and drove in three runs for the Braves, who won for the third time in four games.

The 45-year-old Franco hit the first pitch he saw from Josh Hancock into the seats in right for his first slam since Sept. 1, 1996, when he was with Cleveland. Carlton Fisk held the previous record, homering with the bases loaded in 1991 at 43 years old.