Walker’s Homers Put Rockies In 1st

National League

Larry Walker hit two home runs and Bret Saberhagen won for the first time in nearly eight weeks Tuesday night as Colorado regained first place in the N.L. West, beating Los Angeles 7-3.

With five days left in the season and one game left in this series, the Rockies lead the division by a half-game. Los Angeles leads Houston by a half-game in the wild card race.

Walker’s second homer of the game off Tom Candiotti (7-14), a two-run shot to right-center following a leadoff walk to Dante Bichette in the sixth, snapped a 2-2 tie. It was the third two-homer game of the season for Walker, who has a career-high 34.

Ellis Burks hit a two-out, two-run single off Pedro Astacio in the eighth and Joe Girardi had a two-out RBI single in the ninth to give the Rockies some breathing room.

Saberhagen (7-6), who has been plagued by an inflamed right elbow and was pitching for the first time in 10 days, limited the Dodgers to seven hits and three runs, two earned, in 5-1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out three.

Astros 2, Pirates 0

Houston

Houston scored two runs on infield grounders in the fifth inning and Greg Swindell combined with three relievers on a shutout over Pittsburgh.

Brian Hunter went 3 for 4 and Craig Biggio was 2 for 3 for the Astros, who have won four in a row. Pittsburgh lost its fifth straight.

Cubs 3, Cardinals 2

Chicago

Steve Trachsel overcame his Wrigley Field jinx and Mark Grace set a career high with his 15th homer to lead Chicago to victory over St. Louis.

Trachsel (7-13) won for just the second time in 14 starts this season at Wrigley.

Braves 5, Phillies 1

Philadelphia

Ryan Klesko had a three-run homer and four RBIs and five Atlanta pitchers held Philadelphia to three hits.

Klesko’s 22nd home run came off Paul Quantrill (11-11) and capped a four-run first inning for Atlanta. In his last 21 games, Klesko has eight home runs and 21 RBIs.

Expos 5, Marlins 4

Miami

Wil Cordero doubled home the tying run with two outs in the ninth and scored on Tim Laker’s single as Montreal beat Florida.

Padres 6, Giants 3 San Francisco Andy Ashby won his third straight start and Melvin Nieves homered for the second straight day, leading San Diego over San Francisco.

Reds vs. Mets

New York

The Cincinnati-New York game was rained out. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader today.

Clearing the bases

Ron Gant and the Cincinnati Reds are denying a report that the outfielder has agreed in principle to a four-year, $22.7 million contract extension. The Business Record of Cincinnati reported that the contract numbers were included in a lawsuit filed recently… . Xavier Hernandez must serve out his eight-game suspension before he can pitch again Friday, barring any postponement. Leonard S. Coleman Jr., National League president, upheld the suspension levied against Hernandez for intentionally throwing at a batter after a warning was issued, fighting and instigating a bench-clearing incident in a game at Houston Sept. 5.