Walker Surprises In Colorado Win

National League

Nobody expected it, least of all Colorado Rockies manager Don Baylor.

Larry Walker, acting on his own, bunted for a base hit, scoring Eric Young with the decisive run in the seventh inning as the Colorado Rockies beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-4 Sunday at Denver’s Coors Field.

The Rockies, posting their fourth straight victory and sweeping the three-game series, remained less than one percentage point ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the N.L. West race. Colorado is .5323 while Los Angeles, which beat Pittsburgh 5-4, is .5317. The Dodgers have played two additional games.

With one out in the seventh, Young drew a walk from Hector Carrasco (2-7) and went to second on a wild pitch. Mike Jackson retired Mike Kingery, but Dante Bichette got an infield single.

Walker then laid a bunt down the third-base line and beat it out, with Young scoring from third.

“It caught everybody by surprise - the pitcher, third baseman, everybody,” Baylor said. “It caught me by surprise. I remember only one other time seeing that play in a clutch situation. Frank Robinson did it in a pennant race. It was pretty important.”

Walker said he thought about bunting for a hit while in the on-deck circle.

“We’re in a pennant race. You do whatever you can now to win - whether it’s to knock a catcher over or drive the ball out or dive for balls,” he said.

Dodgers 5, Pirates 4

Pittsburgh

Former replacement player Mike Busch hit a game-tying pinch homer in the seventh, and pinch-hitter Chris Gwynn hit an RBI single an inning later.

The Dodgers rallied from a three-run deficit to complete a three-game sweep and finish 9-4 against Pittsburgh, which was swept for the 10th time this season.

Astros 5, Phillies 4

Philadelphia

Houston’s Craig Biggio scored twice and broke a 4-4 tie with a sixth-inning sacrifice fly while Doug Drabek (9-8) shut out Philadelphia after allowing four runs on four hits in the first inning.

Giants 8, Cubs 7

Chicago

Deion Sanders, showing that he’s a pretty good baseball player, too, tied his career high with four hits as San Francisco completed a three-game sweep of Chicago. The Giants have won nine of 12 to keep alive their slim postseason hopes.

Mets 6, Expos 2

Montreal

Carl Everett and Jeff Kent hit consecutive home runs in a five-run third as New York beat Montreal for the third consecutive day. Rookie Jason Isringhausen (6-2) allowed eight hits, struck out six and walked none in winning his fourth straight decision dating back Aug. 20.

Fla. 5, Braves 4 (11)

Miami

The Florida Marlins scored an unearned run to tie the game in the ninth inning, and Alex Arias hit a bases-loaded single with one out in the 11th for a victory over Atlanta.

Clearing the base

Philadelphia Hall of Famer and announcer Richie Ashburn will have laser surgery on his right eye Tuesday for a retina-related problem and won’t return to the broadcast booth until Friday. … With the elimination of Houston’s Triple A Tucson farm team from the playoffs, the Astros recalled lefty Billy Wagner, their first-round draft pick in 1993, and infielder Dave Hajek. Both will join the team in New York for Tuesday’s game. … Pittsburgh must average 19,675 in the final 10 home games to avoid not drawing 1 million fans for the first time since 1985. They are averaging 13,387, the lowest in the majors. … In a pregame ceremony, the National League retired the numbers 1, 2 and 3 in honor of Hall of Fame umpires Bill Klem, Jocko Conlan and Al Barlick.