Stocker Sent Down To Minor Leagues

National League

In a move general manager Lee Thomas said he should have made “a while back,” the Philadelphia Phillies sent shortstop Kevin Stocker to the minor league Scranton-Wilkes-Barre team of the Triple-A International League Sunday.

“It was a decision I’ve been thinking about for a long time,” Thomas said. “It can do nothing but help him, because the way it’s been going, he just wasn’t getting any better.”

As a rookie in 1993, Stocker, a Central Valley High School graduate, was part of the Phillies’ magical last-to-first N.L. championship team. Called up in July, he became Philadelphia’s everyday shortstop and hit .324.

While Stocker has remained solid in the field, his hitting has dropped off dramatically since that rookie season. He hit .273 in 1994 and .218 last year.

This season, Stocker, 26, has struggled mightily, hitting as low as .043. At the time of his demotion, he was batting .186 (26 for 140) with three homers and 16 RBIs.

“I wouldn’t say it was a total shock,” he said. “When you’re playing like I’m playing …

“I remember what it was like when I was down in Triple-A and I’d read the papers and see the shortstop up here hitting .180 or .190, and I’d say, ‘Why am I not up there?’ ” Stocker said. “Now I’m the guy up here doing that.”

Thomas said the Phillies delayed sending Stocker down out of respect for what he had done for the team.

“I think I should have done this a while back instead of now,” Thomas said. “I just think he needs to go down to Scranton and get all this stuff out of his system and just start playing. I think he’s very capable of getting it back together again.”

Cardinals 2, Astros 0

St. Louis

Houston’s Darryl Kile tied a major-league record by hitting four batters, and Todd Stottlemyre pitched a seven-hitter as St. Louis completed a three-game sweep of Houston.

Kile (6-4) matched the modern mark for a nine-inning game, becoming the 15th pitcher to hit four batters and the first in the N.L. since Moe Drabowsky on June 2, 1957. Kile, known for wildness, led led the league in walks in 1995.

Dodgers 1, Mets 0

New York

Ismael Valdes pitched eight scoreless innings and Los Angeles took advantage of third baseman Jeff Kent’s error to beat New York.

The Mets played their fourth 1-0 game in their last 13 outings.

Pirates 5, Rockies 2

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, winless all season when trailing after seven innings, rallied for a four-run eighth keyed by Al Martin’s pinch-hit homer to beat Colorado.

Jeff King drove in two runs and Zane Smith (3-3) pitched effectively for eight innings as the Pirates won for the first time in the 28 games they have trailed after seven innings.

Giants 8, Expos 1

Montreal

Mark Leiter tossed a five-hitter and struck out 11 as San Francisco ended a three-game losing streak.

Leiter (3-5) allowed Henry Rodriguez’s league-leading 21st home run in the fourth inning but won his first decision in six starts since April 27. The right-hander didn’t walk a batter in recording his first complete game this season and the 11th of his career.

Phillies 9, Padres 8 (12)

Philadelphia

Ricky Otero singled home the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the 12th inning, giving Philadelphia its victory over San Diego.

The Padres, trying for their first three-game sweep in Philadelphia since they turned the trick during their 1969 expansion season at Connie Mack Stadium, tied the game at 8-8 on Steve Finley’s three-run homer in the ninth.

Marlins 3, Cubs 2

Miami

Reliever Robb Nen knocked down Brian McRae’s line drive and threw him out to end the game, stranding runners on second and third and giving Florida the win.

Kevin Brown (4-4) lowered his major league-leading ERA to 2.09, giving up one run in eight innings. Jeff Conine hit his fifth home run in five games for the Marlins.

Braves 6, Reds 2

Cincinnati

Jermaine Dye and Chipper Jones joined in Atlanta’s solo-homer barrage and helped Tom Glavine pad his nearly perfect record at Riverfront Stadium with a win over Cincinnati.

The Braves hit 10 homers - all solo shots - while taking 2 of 3 games in a series that continued their dominance over the Reds.

Clearing the bases

The Pirates are expected to take Clemson right-handed junior pitcher Kris Benson with the No. 1 overall pick at Tuesday’s amateur draft. … The Rockies activated right-hander Bill Swift and placed reliever Curtis Leskanic on the 15-day disabled list. Leskanic has an inflammation in his right shoulder. … Florida general manager Dave Dombrowski announced that Livan Hernandez, the celebrated Cuban defector, is being moved from Triple-A Charlotte affiliate to Double-A Portland, Maine, of the Eastern League.