Braves Put End To Reds’ Streak
National League
In a matchup of the National League’s two best teams, pitcher John Smoltz overcame a shaky start to lead Atlanta to a 5-4 victory over Cincinnati on Tuesday night at Fulton County Stadium and end the Reds’ six-game winning streak. Smoltz (9-5), who had only one win in his previous seven starts, allowed three runs on three hits in the first inning, but limited the Reds to one run and three hits during the next six innings.
With the game tied 4-4 in the sixth inning, Chipper Jones greeted reliever Chuck McElroy (3-3) with a leadoff single, stole second and scored one out later on David Justice’s single.
Jones and Javier Lopez homered and Fred McGriff hit a two-run single for Atlanta.
Dodgers 4, Cardinals 3
Los Angeles
Eric Karros hit his second game-winning home run in as many days, a solo shot in the eighth inning, that gave Los Angeles its 14th victory in 20 games, this one over St. Louis as the Dodgers pulled within two games of Colorado in the West.
Mets 12, Phillies 10
Philadelphia
Carl Everett drove in a career-high five runs and reached base six times as New York defeated Philadelphia, extending the Phillies’ losing streak to six games.
Marlins 5, Rockies 4, (13)
Miami
Chuck Carr’s single in the bottom of the 13th inning scored Terry Pendleton and completed Florida’s comeback from a three-run deficit.
Pirates 9, Giants 5
San Francisco
Jeff King became the first Pirate in 101 years to homer twice in an inning as Pittsburgh hit four homers and scored all its runs in the second inning.
King led off the inning with his 10th homer of the season and hit a solo shot for the eighth run as the Pirates sent 12 men to bat.
Padres 3, Cubs 1
Chicago
Joey Hamilton scattered eight hits and hit an RBI single to give San Diego the win.
Expos 6, Astros 0
Houston
Moises Alou ended an 0-for-14 skid with a three-run homer in the seventh inning, and Gil Heredia earned his first victory in more than two months in Montreal’s win.
It was Montreal’s first victory over Houston in seven games this season and only the second time this season the Astros had been shut out.
Clearing the bases
Utility infielder Mariano Duncan, who hit .345 with 10 hits and two RBIs in the 1993 World Series, has been released by Philadelphia and claimed on waivers by his former team, N.L. Central Division-leading Cincinnati. … Florida pitcher Bobby Witt was traded to the Texas Rangers for two players to be named later.
San Diego’s Tony Gwynn left the game in the fifth inning after aggravating an injury to his right toe. He had missed the last three games after fouling a ball off it last week. His status is day-to-day.