Cincinnati Revives Big Red Machine

National League

This is no Big Red Machine. It’s just playing like one.

The Reds reached heights that have eluded them since the mid-1970s by sweeping the Philadelphia Phillies in a doubleheader Sunday at Cincinnati. Pete Schourek pitched a three-hitter for a 6-1 win in the first game, and Reggie Sanders singled with the bases loaded in the 10th for a 2-1 victory.

The Reds swept their six-game homestand to move 27 games over .500 (59-32) for the first time since 1976, when Johnny Bench and Pete Rose were leading the Big Red Machine to a second consecutive World Series title.

There’s no Bench, Rose, Morgan or Perez around, but the current lineup has a better winning percentage at the moment. The 1976 team won at a .630 pace; this team has a .648 winning percentage.

“This team is doing a great job,” Sanders said. “Every day it’s somebody different. That’s why we’re in first place.”

Pirates 6, Astros 3

Pittsburgh

Jay Bell won a duel of homering shortstops and Pittsburgh, usually ineffective against left-handers, stopped Mike Hampton’s six-game winning streak by beating Houston.

Bell and Houston’s Orlando Miller homered twice each, but Pirates rookie right-hander Esteban Loaiza (7-5) outpitched Hampton for his first victory in five starts since the All-Star break.

Cards 4, Cubs 3 (13)

St. Louis

John Mabry faked a bunt, then singled through a drawn-in infield in the 13th inning as St. Louis avoided a three-game sweep by Chicago.

Mabry, a rookie, had a career-best four hits for the Cardinals. Ramon Caraballo walked to start the 13th and Bernard Gilkey singled for his third hit before Mabry singled up the middle off Chris Nabholz (0-1).

Expos 6, Braves 2

Montreal

Montreal wasted little time giving Carlos Perez all the support he needed.

The Expos scored five runs in the first off Steve Avery and Perez went the distance as Montreal halted a five-game losing skid.

Padres 16, Rockies 8

Denver

Archi Cianfrocco homered and tied a career-high with six RBIs as San Diego beat Colorado in a game featuring eight home runs.

Phil Plantier, who tied a career-best with four hits and drove in three runs, Ken Caminiti and Brad Ausmus also homered as the Padres set a season-high for scoring.

Giants 3, Dodgers 1

San Francisco

Mark Leiter pitched a five-hitter for his fourth complete game of the year and drove in a run with a groundout as San Francisco beat Los Angeles.

Leiter (7-6), who allowed a solo homer by Jose Offerman in the fifth, struck out 10 and walked two.

Mets 7, Marlins 3

New York

Florida’s longest winning streak ever ended at eight games when Jeff Kent and Rico Brogna hit home runs to lead New York past the Marlins.

Bobby Jones (7-8), Jerry DiPoto and John Franco combined on a five-hitter. Jones, who had two losses and a no-decision in his last three starts, allowed all three runs and five hits in 6-1/3 innings.

Clearing the bases

St. Louis manager Mike Jorgensen was ejected for the first time when he argued a double play call by first-base umpire Charlie Williams in the seventh… . With Colorado’s Andres Galarraga at the plate in the fourth inning, umpire Bruce Froemming called a 12-second delay on San Diego’s Glenn Dishman, resulting in a ball added to the count. Dishman, a former Spokane Indians lefty, pitched six innings for the win.

Left fielder Tony Longmire left the second game of Philadelphia’s double-header after spraining his left wrist diving for a ball in the sixth inning… . Montreal’s Henry Rodriguez (fractured tibia) began his rehabilitation with TripleA Ottawa in Pawtucket.