Padres Rally Past Marlins In Shootout
National League
John Flaherty hit a go-ahead grand slam in a nine-run eighth inning and the San Diego Padres rallied from a six-run deficit to beat the Florida Marlins 20-12 Saturday night.
San Diego, which trailed 7-1 in the third, became the sixth major-league team to score 20 runs or more in a game this season, the first time that’s happened since seven teams did it in 1929. Texas, Minnesota, Montreal, the Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee also have reached the 20-run mark this season.
Flaherty hit the fourth grand slam in the majors Saturday, tying a record that’s been accomplished many times. California’s J.T. Snow, Baltimore’s Rafael Palmeiro and Atlanta’s Ryan Klesko hit slams earlier in the day.
The Padres scored their most runs in a game, topping the previous record of 17. It also was the most runs against the Marlins.
Wally Joyner drove in five runs for San Diego and Steve Finley drove in four. The Padres outhit Florida 19-17.
With the score 10-10, Flaherty connected against Terry Mathews (2-4) for his 11th homer this season and first career slam. Flaherty’s thirdinning single extended his hitting streak to 27 games, the longest in the majors this season.
Cardinals 6, Expos 3 St. Louis
Andy Benes won his sixth straight decision, beating Montreal to stop St. Louis’ five-game losing streak.
Benes (9-8), who has a winning record for the first time since April 16, allowed all three runs and four hits in eight innings. He struck out seven and walked two.
Dodgers 6, Astros 5 (11) Houston
Billy Ashley tied the score with a three-run homer in the ninth and Eric Karros singled home the winning run the 11th inning, leading the Dodgers past Houston.
With one out in the 11th, Terry Clark (0-1) hit Tom Prince with a pitch. Prince moved to second on Mike Piazza’s one-out single and scored on Karros’ single to center, easily sliding in ahead of James Mouton’s throw.
Rockies 10, Cubs 6 Denver
Andres Galarraga drove in five runs with a single and a pair of two-run homers and Colorado ended Chicago’s fourgame winning streak.
Quinton McCracken and Vinny Castilla also homered for Colorado, and Mark Thompson (4-7) pitched seven innings to win for the first time since May 19.
He allowed four runs and six hits to snap a four-game skid.
Phillies 2, Pirates 1 Pittsburgh
Terry Mulholland pitched a five-hitter for his third complete game of the season, and Philadelphia beat Pittsburgh for just its second win in 15 games.
Giants 7, Braves 5 San Francisco
Matt Williams and David McCarty hit back-to-back home runs in a seven-run fourth inning as San Francisco beat Atlanta.
Reds 7, Mets 5 Cincinnati
Lenny Harris singled in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning as Cincinnati rallied for its sixth straight victory, beating New York.
Clearing the bases
Atlanta is now 6-4 on the 17-game road trip prompted by the Olympics. … The 32 runs between San Diego and Florida was the most in the N.L. this season, topping Los Angeles’ 16-15 win over Colorado on June 30. … Los Angeles is expected to announce today whether manager Tommy Lasorda will return this season. Lasorda, hospitalized June 24 after a mild heart attack and ulcer, said Friday he has been cleared to return to the job he’s held for 20 years.