Homer In 12th Elevates Giants
Brian Johnson hit a leadoff home run in the 12th inning that set off a wild celebration and the San Francisco Giants, boosted by another homer from Barry Bonds, defeated visiting Los Angeles 6-5 Thursday to sweep a two-game showdown and tie the Dodgers atop the N.L. West.
Both teams have nine games left. They are not scheduled to play again in the regular season.
Johnson connected for his 10th home run on the first pitch from Mark Guthrie (1-4), the Dodgers’ seventh pitcher of the game.
Johnson pumped both fists in the air as he rounded first base while Bonds hoisted manager Dusty Baker in the air.
Johnson was lifted up by teammates after touching home plate to the cheers of the sellout crowd of 52,140.
Cubs 4, Cardinals 3
Chicago
Steve Trachsel, who has given up more homers than any pitcher in the N.L., slowed down Mark McGwire’s chase of Roger Maris as Chicago beat St. Louis.
McGwire, the major league home run leader with 53, eight behind Maris’ record 61 set in 1961, went 2 for 5.
Marlins 8, Phillies 2
Miami
Kevin Brown won his sixth consecutive decision and the Florida Marlins reduced the magic number for clinching their first playoff berth to five by beating Philadelphia.
Florida remained 5-1/2 games ahead of San Francisco and Los Angeles in the wild-card race, and stayed six games behind Atlanta in the N.L. East.
Brown (15-8) allowed nine hits and two runs, one earned, in 8-2/3 innings.
Padres 7, Rockies 6
San Diego
Greg Vaughn and Ken Caminiti hit solo homers and San Diego beat Colorado, surviving three late Rockies homers and getting the final out in a play at the plate.
Ellis Burks hit a two-run homer, his 29th, that brought the Rockies within one. Singles by Larry Walker and Todd Helton put runners on first and third with one out. Vinny Castilla flied out to left fielder Chris Jones, who threw out Walker at the plate trying to score the tying run.
Pirates 12, Astros 3
Pittsburgh
Francisco Cordova kept Pittsburgh alive in the N.L. Central, running his hitless innings streak against Houston to 15 before giving up two runs.
The Pirates cut Houston’s division lead to 3-1/2 games - just as it was before the two-game series began - and kept the Astros’ magic number at seven.
Braves 11, Mets 4
Atlanta
Atlanta battered New York pitching for the second night in a row, getting homers from Chipper Jones and Michael Tucker and three more hits from Ryan Klesko.
Reds 6, Expos 3
Cincinnati
Willie Greene broke out of a season-long slump against Montreal with three hits and Lenny Harris had a two-run infield single as Cincinnati beat the Expos.