Mcgriff’s Homer Conquers Giants

National League

Fred McGriff kept Atlanta’s July perfect with a three-run homer in the ninth inning Sunday night, giving the Braves a 3-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants.

Atlanta is 9-0 this month, equalling its longest winning streak since Aug. 18, 1993.

McGriff hit his 11th home run over the left-center field wall on a 1-2 pitch from Rod Beck (4-3). It followed a leadoff walk to Jeff Blauser and a single by Chipper Jones.

It was Beck’s fifth blown save in 20 opportunities.

Mark Wohlers (3-2) earned the victory with a scoreless ninth.

Mark Carreon gave the Giants a 2-0 lead in the eighth inning when he connected for his eighth home run of the season on a 3-1 pitch from reliever Greg McMichael.

Cubs 7, Phillies 6 (13)

Philadelphia

Todd Zeile’s sacrifice fly scored Brian McRae in the 13th inning as Chicago completed a three-game sweep over Philadelphia .

McRae, who was 2-for-6 with three runs scored, opened the 13th by reaching first on an error by first baseman Mariano Duncan.

Rockies 4, Expos 1

Denver

Dante Bichette and Larry Walker hit back-to-back solo home runs and Marvin Freeman pitched seven shutout innings, pacing Colorado to its fifth straight victory.

Eric Young and pinch-hitter John Vander Wal also had solo homers for the Rockies, who cracked 20 homers in the just-completed seven-game homestand to help open up a five-game lead in the N.L. West.

Reds 8, Dodgers 0

Cincinnati

Reggie Sanders hit a two-run homer and a bases-loaded double as Cincinnati rocked starter Ismael Valdes for eight runs and coasted to a victory over Los Angeles.

Sanders matched his career high by driving in four runs - two on his 15th homer in the third inning and two more on his two-out double in the fourth.

Pirates 6, Mets 3

Pittsburgh

Center fielder Brett Butler’s misplay of Orlando Merced’s routine single scored the go-ahead run as Pittsburgh defeated New York behind rookie Esteban Loaiza.

Loaiza (6-3) withstood his own early wildness and Todd Hundley’s solo homer to throw a five-hitter, outpitching Bret Saberhagen (5-4) and winning for the fifth time in six decisions.

Florida 6, St. Louis 0

St. Louis

Mark Gardner pitched his first complete-game shutout in nearly five years, and Tommy Gregg hit his first career grand slam to lead Florida past St. Louis.

Gardner, who replaced injured David Weathers in the rotation, allowed the Cardinals seven hits, no walks and struck out eight.

Padres 9, Astros 2

Houston

San Diego pitcher Andy Ashby continued his recent superb stretch of pitching and Eddie Williams contributed a grand slam home run to lift San Diego over Houston.

Ashby has won four of his last five starts and during that stretch, he has allowed only seven runs on 24 hits over a total of 41 innings.

Clearing the bases

Philadelphia released reliever Norm Charlton, who was 2-5 with a 7.36 ERA in 25 games this season… . New York, looking for a second-half spark, called up touted minor league pitcher Jason Isringhausen from Triple-A Norfolk.