Rockies Hang On; Saberhagen Hurt
National League
Larry Walker hit a two-run double in the third inning that finished an ailing Bret Saberhagen, leading the Colorado Rockies over the New York Mets 5-4 Saturday night.
Saberhagen, the subject of several trade rumors, left in the third inning with a strained muscle in his left side. His condition is listed as day-to-day.
“It’s serious enough that he will miss his next start,” manager Dallas Green said. “I’m hoping that it’s not more.
“It’s too early to tell if it will be two or three or the disabled list. We’ll have to see what happens when he shows up tomorrow.”
Andres Galarraga had a pair of RBI singles, and Dante Bichette and Mike Kingery each had three hits for the Rockies.
Bobby Bonilla had three hits, including his 14th home run, for the Mets. But he grounded out with the bases loaded to end the game.
Dodgers 3, Marlins 1
Los Angeles
Hideo Nomo pitched a three-hitter to win his seventh straight decision, and also got his first major-league hit as Los Angeles defeated Florida.
Nomo struck out 10, improving his N.L.-leading total to 129. He walked none for the first time in his 14 starts for the Dodgers.
It was Nomo’s third complete game and third straight at home.
Braves 7, Padres 6
San Diego
Atlanta erased a 5-0 deficit on home runs by Charlie O’Brien, Dwight Smith and Jeff Blauser to beat San Diego for its 12th victory in 13 games this month.
Smith pulled the Braves to 6-5 with a pinch-hit, three-run shot to straightaway center off starter Andy Ashby with two outs in the seventh. Smith, who had been in an 0-for-20 slump, jumped for joy as he rounded first base.
After reliever Bryce Florie walked Marquis Grissom, Blauser hit the next pitch over the left-field fence to give the Braves a 7-6 lead.
Expos 5, Phillies 3
Montreal
Rondell White and Wil Cordero both had two doubles among three hits and drove in two runs and Butch Henry pitched six strong innings as Montreal beat Philadelphia.
The Phillies have lost two of the first three games of this four-game series, scoring nine runs.
Reds 4, Cubs 3
Chicago
All-Star outfielder Ron Gant left the game with a rib injury and substitute Jerome Walton doubled home the go-ahead run in the seventh inning sending Cincinnati past Chicago. Gant, among the league leaders in home runs and RBIs, is expected to be out for two to five days because of a strained right rib muscle.
Gant winced after fouling off a pitch in the first inning. He then doubled, and left in the middle of the second.
Pirates 9, Cardinals 2
Pittsburgh
Jeff King homered twice and drove in five runs, helping Denny Neagle become the N.L.’s first 10-game winner as Pittsburgh beat St. Louis.
Jay Bell homered into the fourth level in left field and Mark Parent also connected. The Pirates had not hit four home runs in a game since Sept. 29, 1993.
Astros 15, Giants 9
San Francisco
Two-run singles by Derek Bell and pinch-hitter Dave Magadan highlighted an eight-run eighth inning as Houston won.
The Astros also got RBI singles from pinch-hitter Andy Stankiewicz, Tony Eusebio and Phil Plantier in the eighth. Houston was helped by a throwing error by reliever Kenny Greer on a bunt.
Craig Shipley and Jeff Bagwell hit consecutive home runs in the ninth for the Astros, who trailed 6-1 after three innings.