NEW YORK (AP) – The New York Mets guaranteed a winning season in Willie Randolph’s first year as manager, beating the Colorado Rockies 3-2 Friday night behind Kris Benson’s first victory in six weeks.

Marlon Anderson hit a tiebreaking homer and Mike Jacobs also connected for New York, which won for the 11th time in 14 games. The Mets (82-78) had not finished with a winning record since 2001.

Benson (10-8) limited the Rockies to six hits, striking out two and walking one before leaving with one out in the eighth. He had been 0-4 in seven starts since beating Pittsburgh 6-2 on Aug. 16.

Aaron Heilman relieved Benson and earned his fifth save in six chances.

The Mets took the lead in the first inning when Anderson and Carlos Beltran both singled with one out against Byung-Hyun Kim (5-12).

Cliff Floyd bounced to first, where Todd Helton stepped on the base for the putout and then tried to get Anderson in a rundown off third base. But Helton threw behind the runner to third and Anderson beat Garrett Atkins’ relay home, bowling over catcher Danny Ardoin.

Jacobs opened the second with his 10th home run of the season, his second in two nights and sixth in the last 12 games.

The Rockies tied it in the fourth when Helton walked with one out and Matt Holliday followed with his 19th home run.

Anderson put the Mets back in front in the bottom of the fifth when he led off with his seventh home run of the season, connecting on a 3-2 pitch.

Notes: Jacobs’ home run traveled an estimated 365 feet. Holliday’s went 380 feet and Anderson’s went 455. … The Mets turned inning-ending double plays in the second, fourth and eighth innings. … CF Corey Sullivan robbed Floyd of an extra-base hit with a leaping catch at the wall in the fifth. … The loss was the 94th of the season for the Rockies, matching last year’s total.

AP-ES-09-30-05 2151EDT


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