Reds Defeat S.F. With Ex-Giant Arms

National League

Now it’s Cincinnati’s turn to reap rewards from the Deion Sanders deal.

“Just a week ago I was ready to go in and pitch for the Giants, and now here I am doing this,” said Dave Burba, one of three former Giants relievers who combined for six scoreless innings in a 14-6 Reds victory Thursday in San Francisco.

“It’s always tough coming out and pitching against your former teammates, but this was his last chance,” said Reds manager Davey Johnson, who also tapped former Giants Mike Jackson and Jeff Brantley to close the game after his team rallied from a 6-2 deficit.

“Those guys gave us a chance to win the ballgame today,” said Barry Larkin, whose two home runs and five RBIs paced a 14-hit outburst. “We need guys like that to shut them down and give us an opportunity to win.”

Since Burba, Mark Portugal and Darren Lewis were traded to the Reds for Sanders and three prospects, early returns favored the Giants. Mark Portugal was shelled in his first Cincinnati start and Sanders helped beat the Reds on Wednesday night with a two-run double.

Dodgers 9, Braves 4

Los Angeles

Raul Mondesi celebrated the birth of his second son with a solo homer that triggered a five-run fifth and rallied Los Angeles past Atlanta.

S.D. 8-5, Marlins 2-8

Miami

Phil Plantier drove in four runs with two doubles in the first game of a raindelayed doubleheader San Diego split with Florida.

In the second game, Russ Morman homered and had two RBIs to lead the Marlins in a game filled with seven errors.

Phillies 6, Pirates 4

Philadelphia

Darren Daulton’s RBI-single in the bottom of the seventh inning snapped a tie as Philadelphia rallied for four runs and went on to victory over Pittsburgh.

Expos 2, Cardinals 1

Montreal

David Segui’s eighth-inning single scored Rondell White to break a tie and give Montreal a victory over St. Louis.

Astros 5, Colo. 4 (12)

Houston

Orlando Miller’s pinch-hit single in the 12th inning scored Jeff Bagwell from third base, rallying Houston over Colorado.

Clearing the bases

Pittsburgh has hit 20 home runs in their last 15 games and has 80 in their first 81 games after hitting only 80 in 114 games last season. … The Rockies have a winning record against all three divisions East (17-15), Central (18-14) and West (11-8). … Darren Lewis, caught stealing in his first two attempts as a Red, stole two bases. … Philly outfielder Lenny Dykstra was placed on the 15-day DL because of problems with his right knee. … Padre Jody Reed has reached base safely in 38 consecutive games (42 hits, 22 walks) and his error was his first in 94 games. … Willie Banks remained winless in six starts since joining the Dodgers on June 19 in a trade from the Cubs.