Gilkey Breaks Up Cubs’ No-Hit Bid

National League

Frank Castillo came within one strike of pitching the first Chicago Cubs’ no-hitter in 23 years, losing it on a two-out triple in the ninth inning by Bernard Gilkey in a 7-0 win Monday night over St. Louis at Wrigley Field.

Castillo, who struck out a career-high 13, fanned the first two batters in the ninth and then got ahead 0-2 on Gilkey.

But on a 2-2 pitch, Gilkey hit a line drive to right-center field. Right fielder Sammy Sosa charged and dived, but the ball bounced several feet away and rolled for a triple. Castillo retired the next batter on a fly ball to Sosa for a one-hitter.

Dodgers 4, Rockies 3 Los Angeles

Eric Karros hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning, leading Los Angeles to a victory over Colorado that put the Dodgers alone in first place for the first time since Sept. 5.

Los Angeles, which opened a half-game lead over Colorado in the N.L. West, has five games left.

Padres 7, Giants 4 San Francisco

Ken Caminiti hit his 100th career homer and Tony Gwynn had three hits, including a two-run double, as San Diego beat San Francisco.

Gwynn, who leads the majors with a .367 average, went 3 for 5.

Mets 2, Reds 1 (5-1/2) New York

Jose Vizcaino scored on a wild pitch in the sixth inning moments before the game was stopped by rain, and play never resumed as New York beat Cincinnati.

Jason Isringhausen (9-2) won his seventh straight decision, pitching out of trouble in the sixth inning.

Astros 10, Pirates 5 Houston

Houston nearly blew a six-run lead before pulling away from Pittsburgh.

Brian Hunter had two hits and three RBIs and Dave Magadan had two hits and two RBIs for the Astros.

Expos 9, Marlins 0 Miami

Wil Cordero hit two home runs as Montreal beat Florida before a paid crowd of 16,230, the smallest ever to see the Marlins at Joe Robbie Stadium.

It was the first two-homer game for Cordero, who has 10 home runs and ended a streak of 109 plate appearances without an RBI earlier this month.

Clearing the bases

Florida outfielder Gary Sheffield was named the N.L. player of the week after hitting three homers and driving in 10 runs… . Former New York pitcher Dwight Gooden threw for 10 minutes in a tryout with the Marlins… . Montreal pitcher Carlos Perez posted a $50,000 bond and walked out of an Atlanta jail several hours after a municipal court judge refused to drop rape charges against him. … Kevin McClatchy, backed by some of Pittsburgh’s most influential businessmen, neared an agreement to buy the Pirates during a 4-hour meeting with the current owners.