Boone Goes Deep In Comeback Win
National League
Bret Boone hit a three-run homer, his second of the game, to cap a four-run comeback with two outs in the 10th inning and rally the Cincinnati Reds over the reeling Chicago Cubs 7-5 Sunday in Cincinnati.
Boone’s homer off Randy Myers sent the Cubs to their season-high seventh straight loss, dropping them to 1-11 since the All-Star break.
The Reds completed their first three-game sweep of Chicago at Riverfront Stadium since 1981. Cincinnati has won three in a row since trading Deion Sanders to San Francisco in an eight-player deal.
“We did this last year all the time,” Boone said. “This team never amazes me. I don’t care what the score is, I tell you when we win, it does not faze me.”
Braves 2, Padres 1
Atlanta
Jeff Blauser’s sacrifice fly with one out in the eighth gave John Smoltz the victory in his pitching duel with Joey Hamilton as Atlanta defeated San Diego.
It was the Braves’ 16th victory in 20 games, and the 11th in their final at-bat this season.
Dodgers 4, Marlins 2
Miami
Tom Candiotti pitched seven strong innings and Roberto Kelly broke a scoreless tie with a two-run homer in the seventh to lift Los Angeles over Florida.
Mike Piazza pinch hit in the eighth for Candiotti (5-8) and, against reliever Richie Lewis, belted his 16th home run.
Expos 8, Pirates 2
Pittsburgh
Center fielder Jacob Brumfield misplayed two fly balls into three Montreal runs and Moises Alou homered and drove in two runs, carrying the Expos past Pittsburgh.
Jeff Fassero (10-7) prevented Pittsburgh’s first series sweep of the season, pitching a six-hitter for his first complete game of the season and only his second in two seasons.
Phillies 10, Cardinals 6
Philadelphia
Tony Longmire, making a rare start, drove in three runs and had three hits as Philadelphia defeated St. Louis.
In only his 11th start of the season, Longmire went 3 for 5 as the Phillies won for only the fourth time in their last 15 games. Longmire is 9 for 30 as a pinch-hitter.
Rockies 8, Mets 5
Denver
Dante Bichette, Vinny Castilla and Ellis Burks homered in a five-run first inning as Colorado defeated New York.
Bichette hit a three-run homer, his 17th of the season and all of them at Coors Field. Castilla followed with his 20th, his third in two days, and Ellis Burks connected for his first of two home runs in the game.
Astros 3, Giants 2 (10)
Houston
Derrick May’s two-out RBI single in the 10th inning rallied Houston past San Francisco.
The Astros came from behind to win for the 11th time in their last 13 victories.
Clearing the bases
Deion Sanders was a no-show for the second straight day, but San Francisco manager Dusty Baker said the recently acquired outfielder’s absence won’t cause a distraction… . Cincinnati starter Jose Rijo will have his elbow examined today in Birmingham, Ala., by Dr. James Andrews. Rijo expects to learn that he’ll need surgery.