Reds Dispatch Best Prospect
National League
Willie Greene, the Cincinnati Reds’ opening-day starter at third base, was demoted to Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday along with struggling setup man Johnny Ruffin.
The Reds plan to replace them with minor-league pitchers John Courtright and Scott Sullivan, expanding the pitching staff to 13. Cincinnati is off to one of the worst starts in club history because of its undependable bullpen.
Greene, 23, seemed happy to return to the minors after failing to hit in spring training or the regular season. He struck out 17 times in 31 spring-training at-bats, and hit just .105 with seven strikeouts in 19 at-bats in the regular season.
The Reds gave Greene, their most highly regarded prospect, the starting job when Tony Fernandez left as a free agent after last season.
Clearing the bases
Atlanta second baseman Mark Lemke hasn’t made an error in 72 consecutive games… . San Diego second baseman Luis Lopez, who began his pro career with Spokane, underwent surgery for a torn ligament in his right elbow… . Houston’s Tony Eusebio has 14 hits in his last 29 at-bats.
Mets 3, Reds 0
Cincinnati
New York’s Bobby Jones held Cincinnati to three hits in eight innings and Edgardo Alfonzo drove in a pair of runs.
Cincinnati, off to one of its worst starts of the century at 1-8, was shut out for the second time in four games. The Reds haven’t scored in their last 17 innings while collecting just eight hits.
Jones (1-1) struck out four, walked two and threw 106 pitches in his second consecutive strong outing. The former Fresno State right-hander went seven innings against St. Louis in his last start, allowing three unearned runs in seven innings.
John Franco allowed two hits and a walk in the ninth before retiring Benito Santiago for his second save.
Phillies 9, Braves 4
Atlanta
Charlie Hayes hit a three-run homer to power a 12-hit Philadelphia attack, helping Tyler Green earn his first major-league victory.
Mariano Duncan and Dave Gallagher each added three hits for the Phillies, who snapped a four-game Atlanta winning streak.
Dodgers 6, Rockies 4
Denver
Raul Mondesi extended his hitting streak to nine games with a two-run homer and an RBI double as Los Angeles handed Colorado its first loss at Coors Field.
Eric Karros also ran his hitting streak to nine games, and Mike Piazza went 4 for 5 with two RBIs.
Cubs 8, Pirates 4
Pittsburgh
Scott Bullett, a former Pittsburgh prospect discarded because he wasn’t an extra-base threat, hit a three-run homer - his first in the majors - to carry Chicago past the Pirates.
Astros 9, Cardinals 4
St. Louis
Mike Hampton pitched seven scoreless innings and Houston won its fifth straight game.
Craig Biggio and Phil Plantier homered for the Astros.
Marlins 11, Expos 6
Montreal
Light-hitting rookie Quilvio Veras hit a grand slam during a six-run fourth inning for Florida.
Giants 9, Padres 2
San Diego
Matt Williams hit a three-run homer off Fernando Valenzuela and Joe Rosselli won his first major-league start as San Francisco handed San Diego its fifth straight loss.