Galarraga Homers Three Straight Times
National League
Andres Galarraga almost had a chance to do what no major leaguer had ever done - hit a home run in four straight innings.
He lost his chance in the ninth inning of Colorado’s 11-3 victory at San Diego on Sunday when Dante Bichette and Larry Walker struck out with the bases loaded. Galarraga was on deck when the third out was made.
“Believe me, I wanted to hit so bad,” said Galarraga, who homered in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings and drove in a career-high seven runs as Colorado split the four-game series with the San Diego Padres.
Galarraga reached base safely all five times he came to bat. But it was the sixth at-bat - the one that didn’t happen - that had him talking afterward.
“I say, ‘I’ve got a big chance, because Dante and Walker in front of me with one out.’ Well, I’ve got to be ready to try to hit another one, with the bases loaded or drive in at least two more RBIs. On a day like that, you want to hit in every inning.”
Galarraga became the fourth major leaguer to homer in three straight innings. The last to do it was Larry Parrish of Montreal on July 30, 1978. Had he joined the 12 players who’ve hit four homers in a game, Galarraga would have been the only one to do it in consecutive innings.
Braves 4, Mets 2
Atlanta
Greg Maddux allowed a season-high 10 hits in six innings but still won his fifth straight decision and Ryan Klesko hit a tie-breaking double as Atlanta beat New York.
Maddux (7-1), who has given up only seven earned runs in his last 56 innings, in 18-10 lifetime against the Mets - his most wins against any club. Maddux did not walk a hitter and has a streak of 32 innings without one.
Dodgers 3, Giants 2
Los Angeles
Tom Candiotti won consecutive starts for the first time this season and Raul Mondesi homered as Los Angeles beat San Francisco for its fifth straight victory.
Candiotti allowed two runs over eight innings to help the Dodgers complete their first fourgame sweep of the Giants since April 1980.
Phillies 5, Cardinals 3
St. Louis
Rookie Tyler Green came within one out of his third shutout and Charlie Hayes hit a three-run homer as Philadelphia trimmed St. Louis.
Green (7-4) was removed after the Cardinals loaded the bases on a triple and a pair of two-out walks in the ninth. Heathcliff Slocumb then allowed three runs before nailing down his 19th save.
Astros 19, Cubs 6
Houston
Houston set a team scoring record and posted the highest run total in the majors this season with its easy victory over Chicago.
The Astros, who scored in every inning after the third, tallied nine runs in the eighth to break the team record of 18 set in 1971 and matched in 1974.
Jeff Bagwell drove in five runs, Derek Bell went 3 for 6 with three RBIs and Brian Hunter was 3 for 5 with four runs scored.
Pirates 1, Expos 0
Montreal
Esteban Loaiza combined with two relievers on a six-hit shutout in Pittsburgh’s victory over Montreal.
Marlins 5, Reds 1 Cincinnati David Weathers pitched five hitless innings before he was hit by a pitch while trying to bunt, and Terry Mathews gave up three hits the rest of the way as Florida beat Cincinnati.
Clearing the bases
Jeff Conine went 30 for 45 on Florida’s 12-game road trip… . Houston’s Jeff Bagwell, last season’s batting champ, has hit safely in 20 of 23 games, raising his average 69 points to .252… . Todd Worrell of the Dodgers has 12 saves in as many opportunities and a 0.00 ERA in 20 innings.