SAN DIEGO (AP) – New York Mets right fielder Mike Cameron was taken off the field on a stretcher following a frightening head-to-head collision with center fielder Carlos Beltran in the seventh inning of a 2-1 loss to the San Diego Padres on Thursday.

The game was delayed for about 13 minutes after the diving crash. Cameron lay on the field and was tended to by trainers from both teams before being taken to Mercy Hospital.

Cameron broke his nose, had multiple fractures of both cheekbones and a slight concussion, Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said.

Cameron underwent two CT scans and was to be hospitalized overnight. He was placed on the disabled list.

Mets assistant general manager Jim Duquette said Beltran was examined by the Padres’ doctor at the stadium and “everything came out normal.” Beltran was to have a CT scan and then possibly head to Los Angeles to rejoin the Mets, who open a series against the Dodgers tonight.

Beltran had a sore shoulder and a cut near his left temple.

Athletics 5, Angels 4

OAKLAND, Calif. – When Francisco Rodriguez dropped a simple return throw from his catcher, the Oakland Athletics sneaked into first place all by themselves with perhaps the strangest win anyone had seen in years.

Jason Kendall alertly dashed home from third base with the winning run when Los Angeles’ miffed closer flubbed the easy toss, and the A’s took sole possession of first in the AL West with a 5-4 come-from-behind victory on Thursday.

Blue Jays 2, Tigers 1

TORONTO – Scott Downs and two relievers combined on a two-hitter to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 2-1 victory over the struggling Detroit Tigers on Thursday.

Frank Catalanotto hit a two-run homer for the Blue Jays, who outhit the Tigers 4-2.

Orioles 4, Devil Rays 2

BALTIMORE – The Baltimore Orioles welcomed back Rafael Palmeiro, then beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays while he watched from the dugout.

Bruce Chen pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, and Javy Lopez homered and scored twice to lead Baltimore past the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 4-2 Thursday night for a three-game sweep.

Cubs 11, Cardinals 4

CHICAGO – Greg Maddux pitched his first complete game in more than a year, Derrek Lee hit two home runs and the Chicago Cubs snapped their eight-game losing streak with an 11-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday.

Maddux (9-9) allowed 12 hits in going the distance for the first time since July 22, 2004. He won his 314th game, tying Gaylord Perry for 16th place on the all-time list.

D-backs 3, Marlins 1

MIAMI – Troy Glaus and Chad Tracy homered in the eighth inning to support a strong outing by Brandon Webb and lead the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 3-1 victory over the Florida Marlins on Thursday night.

Webb (10-8) limited Florida to four hits and a walk in eight innings. He struck out seven to help Arizona avoid being swept in the three-game series.

Giants 5, Braves 3

ATLANTA – Randy Winn hit a two-out, two-run homer in the seventh inning and the San Francisco Giants avoided a sweep in Atlanta, rallying for a 5-3 victory over the Braves on Thursday night.

One night after scoring three runs off John Smoltz in the ninth – only to lose 5-4 in the 12th – the Giants made this comeback stick.

Pirates 11, Rockies 3

DENVER – Jose Castillo had a two-run triple among his three hits, and Jason Bay had three hits and scored three times to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates over the Colorado Rockies 11-3 Thursday.

Castillo, who had a career-high four hits Tuesday, drove in three runs and has eight RBIs in his last six games.

Yankees 9, Rangers 8

NEW YORK – Derek Jeter hit a tiebreaking home run in the seventh inning after the Yankees’ bullpen blew a strong spot start by Scott Proctor, lifting New York over the Texas Rangers 9-8 Thursday night.

Proctor was making his first big league start in place of Randy Johnson, who was skipped because of a bad back. Proctor held Texas to three runs – both on solo homers by David Dellucci – and only three hits, before leaving with a 6-2 lead after five-plus innings.

Astros 6, Nationals 3

HOUSTON – Andy Pettitte won for the sixth time in eight starts and the Houston Astros beat the Washington Nationals 6-3 on Thursday night.

Brad Ausmus had a three-run double in the sixth off crumbling starter Ryan Drese (3-6), who lost his fifth consecutive start for the Nationals. Washington has dropped five of its last six to fall three games behind Houston in the NL wild-card race.

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