Dodgers Lose Game, Piazza

National League

Mark Leiter scattered seven hits over 7-2/3 innings and Kirt Manwaring hit a three-run double Tuesday night as the San Francisco Giants, all but mathematically reduced to playing the role of spoilers, pounded Hideo Nomo and the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-2 in L.A.

The win was only the second in seven games for the Giants, and the Dodgers may have lost more than just a game, although they remained one game ahead of Houston in the wild card race.

Catcher Mike Piazza, the N.L.’s second-leading hitter with a .358 average, left the game after being hit in the left wrist by a pitch in the first inning.

Piazza sustained what the Dodgers called a severe contusion of the wrist and a cut lower lip when the ball deflected off his wrist. He was taken to Centinela Hospital Medical Center for X-rays, which were negative, and will be re-examined by team physician Dr. Frank Jobe today.

Nomo, who had allowed only four hits and no runs while striking out 31 in 23 innings against the Giants, was hammered for seven hits and six runs in five innings.

Padres 15, Rockies 4 San Diego

Ken Caminiti became the first player in major-league history to homer from both sides of the plate three times in a season as he went 4 for 4 with a career-high eight RBIs in San Diego’s victory over Colorado.

Amazingly, Caminiti’s switch-hitting feat came in just four games. He homered from both sides against the Chicago Cubs both Saturday and Sunday, joining Eddie Murray as the only major leaguers to do so in consecutive games.

Expos 4, Reds 1 Cincinnati

Wil Cordero made up for a baserunning lapse by singling home one run and scoring another to lead Montreal over struggling Cincinnati.

The Reds have lost eight of 12, prolonging the N.L. Central race. Their clinching number dropped to two when Houston lost to Chicago.

Cubs 7, Astros 6 Houston

Dave Magadan’s second error of the game, with two outs in the sixth inning, set up Scott Servais’ three-run homer that helped Chicago to victory over Houston. The Cubs snapped a three-game losing streak and ended the Astros’ four-game winning streak.

Marlins 5, Phillies 4 Philadelphia

Greg Colbrunn’s two-run homer with one out in the ninth inning capped a four-run rally and Florida beat Philadelphia.

Yorkis Perez (2-6) was the winner, while Robb Nen pitched the ninth for his 21st save.

Mets 10, Braves 3 Atlanta

Jeff Kent drove in four runs to lead New York to victory over Atlanta, snapping the Braves’ five-game winning streak.

Pirates 12, Cardinals 1 Pittsburgh

Al Martin had four hits, including a three-run homer in an eight-run fifth inning, to lead Pittsburgh to victory over St. Louis.