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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Slocumb Keeps Promises

Associated Press

National League

Heathcliff Slocumb made good on a pair of promises, and the Philadelphia Phillies are glad he did.

First, Slocumb said he would go back to saving games for the Phillies. Second, he warned Gary Sheffield not to expect another slider.

Slocumb won an encore showdown against Sheffield on Wednesday night and Mickey Morandini hit a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the 13th inning, helping the Phillies to a 3-1 road victory in 13 innings.

“If my arm could talk, you wouldn’t be able to print what it would say,” Slocumb said. “It’s so tired.”

Slocumb notched his ninth save, the most in the majors, after blowing an opportunity Tuesday night when he yielded a game-tying grand slam to Sheffield in a game Philadelphia eventually won 9-7 in 10 innings.

This time, Sheffield came to bat in the bottom of the 13th with Alex Arias aboard and Slocomb retired him on a weak fly to center.

“I saw him before the game and told him he’d never see another slider from me,” Slocumb said. “I threw him a fastball - low and away.”

For Morandini, it was his second game-winning hit in as many nights. He knocked in the decisive run Tuesday night.

Reds 6, Expos 2

Montreal

Reggie Sanders homered and Ron Gant drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning to help Cincinnati beat Montreal.

Giants 2, Cubs 1

San Francisco

Barry Bonds homered off the empty upper deck in right field in the seventh inning to give San Francisco the win over Chicago and ruin a sparkling pitching performance by Kevin Foster, who took a perfect game into the sixth.

Padres 2, Cardinals 1

San Diego

Melvin Nieves broke his 2-for-22 slump with a two-run homer as San Diego won their 12th straight home game against St. Louis.

Rockies 6, Braves 5

Atlanta

Colorado scored six runs off Greg Maddux, doubling the total he has allowed this season, and beat Atlanta for their third career victory against the Braves in 26 games.

Astros 7, Mets 2

Houston

Luis Gonzalez tied a career-high with four hits, including a two-run triple in a three-run first inning, as Houston broke out of a home hitting slump with the victory over New York.

Pirates 3, Dodgers 2

Los Angeles

Jacob Brumfield, baffled along with his teammates by Hideo Nomo for seven innings, hit a two-out, RBI single in the ninth inning to give Pittsburgh the victory over Los Angeles. Nomo finished with 14 strikeouts.

Larkin on the shelf

Cincinnati shortstop Barry Larkin, who leads the National League with a .425 batting average, injured his right ankle and left the game against Montreal. He is listed as day-to-day.

Larkin sustained a mild sprain to his right ankle in the first inning as he landed awkwardly at first base.

Mitchell headed home

The Fukuoka Daiei Hawks have erased Kevin Mitchell’s name from the team’s registered list after a dispute over his knee injury, a sports daily reported.

Team president Ryuzo Setoyama indicated it was the first step toward his release, according to Nikkan Sports.

Clearing the bases

The Mets have hit 14 homers in their last 15 games… . Nomo eclipsed the previous high for strikeouts this season (12) shared by Philadelphia’s Curt Schilling and Kansas City’s Kevin Appier.