Expos Pair Teams To Shut Out Braves

National League

Butch Henry and Mel Rojas did something no National League pitchers had accomplished before Tuesday night. They shut out host Atlanta 3-0, the first time the Braves have been blanked since the day before the strike began last August.

“Any time you can keep a lineup like that from scoring, that’s a great feat, I suppose,” Henry said.

The shutout left the Boston Red Sox as the only team in the majors that has not been shut out this year.

Wil Cordero and Moises Alou hit solo home runs in the first inning, sending the Expos to only their third victory in 13 games. Atlanta had won three in a row and 10 of 13.

Henry (3-5) gave up four hits, walked three and struck out five in 8 innings. Rojas relieved after Marquis Grissom singled with one out in the ninth, and closed for his 12th save.

Pirates 6, Cubs 5

Chicago

Denny Neagle (9-3) hit the first grand slam by a Pittsburgh pitcher in nearly 10 years, and also became the N.L.’s first nine-game winner as the Pirates beat Chicago.

Neagle connected in the sixth inning for the first slam by a Pirates pitcher since Don Robinson hit one against Warren Brusstar of the Cubs on Sept. 12, 1985. Neagle, who began the game with two hits in 33 at-bats, homered off Jim Bullinger (4-1).

Bullinger lost for the first time since June 17, 1994, a span of 19 games, including 13 starts. He gave up five hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Astros 6, Cardinals 2

Houston

Doug Drabek (4-5) matched a career-high with 11 strikeouts and won at home for the first time this season, leading Houston over St. Louis.

Drabek (4-5) gave up five hits and allowed one run - on a balk - in 7 2/3 innings for his first victory in six decisions at the Astrodome.

Reds 12, Phillies 3

Philadelphia

Pitcher John Smiley (7-1) hit his second home run of the season, helping himself win for the sixth time in seven starts, as Cincinnati beat Philadelphia.

Reggie Sanders hit a three-run homer, his 13th, and Bret Boone and Craig Worthington had solo shots for the Reds.

Mets 2, Marlins 0

Miami

Bill Pulsipher (1-2) earned his first major league victory, striking out nine in 7 1/3 innings and pitching New York past Florida.

Pulsipher, hit hard by Houston and Philadelphia in his first two starts, allowed three hits and walked five.

Rockies 5, Giants 1

San Francisco

Bill Swift, making his first appearance against his former club, allowed two hits in seven shutout innings as Colorado beat San Francisco and sent the Giants to their fifth consecutive loss.

Swift, who was 39-19 with the Giants from 1992-94 and led the N.L. with a 2.08 ERA in 1992, struck out six and did not allow a runner past second.

The Giants’ Barry Bonds went 0 for 1 with three walks, extending his slump to 8 for 49.

Padres 14, Dodgers 3

Los Angeles

Ken Caminiti hit a grand slam, a play on which Los Angeles right fielder Raul Mondesi injured his knee, and San Diego stopped the Dodgers’ six-game winning streak.

Caminiti’s second career slam capped a six-run sixth inning. Mondesi bruised his left knee when he banged into the wall chasing the ball, and left the game.

Former Spokane Indian Glenn Dishman (1-1) got his first major league victory, and became the first rookie left-hander to win a game for the Padres since Eric Nolte on Aug. 29, 1987, against Philadelphia.

Clearing the bases

The National League confirmed that the Florida Marlins will be host for the 2000 All-Star Game. This year’s All-Star Game will be July 11 in Arlington, Texas, and next year’s is in Philadelphia. Cleveland is the site for 1997 and Denver was announced Monday as the site for 1998. The A.L. will determine the site for 1999… . Kevin McClatchy, an heir to the McClatchy Newspapers fortune, and his unidentified partners want to buy the money-losing Pittsburgh Pirates. McClatchy, 32, of Sacramento, Calif., said he would keep the team in Pittsburgh. The city almost lost the team in the mid-1980s… . The Braves placed second baseman Mark Lemke on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Sunday because of a strained left hamstring… . As much as the Giants desperately need Matt Williams’ presence in the lineup, they’re not going to put him on the fast track. Three weeks after surgery to repair his broken foot, the Giants are saying it will be at least another three to four weeks before Williams returns. … St. Louis reliever Tom Henke is 15 for 15 in save opportunities… . The Phillies put outfielder Andy Van Slyke on the 15-day disabled list, backdated to June 21, with a bruised lower left ribcage. He will be unable to play for several weeks. Dave Hollins was added to the roster.