Cubs Cling To Playoff Hopes

National League

The comeback Chicago Cubs did it again Friday, scoring three times in the ninth inning to tie before beating the Houston Astros 4-3 in the 10th on Luis Gonzalez’s one-out single that let the team stay alive in the National League wild card race.

The rally came just one day after Chicago became the only major-league team this century to come back from six deficits in a game, defeating Houston 12-11 in 11 innings.

Padres 6, Dodgers 5

San Diego

Marc Newfield hit a bases-loaded, two-run double with two outs in the eighth inning as San Diego prevented Los Angeles from clinching the N.L. West. Los Angeles can clinch the West with one more victory.

If Los Angeles and Colorado finish tied for the West lead, the Dodgers will win the division by virtue of their 9-4 record against the Rockies this season. The only way there would be a one-game playoff on Monday is if Los Angeles, Colorado and Houston finish with the same records.

Giants 10, Rockies 7

Denver

Mark Carreon capped a six-RBI game with a tying two-run homer in the ninth inning, and San Francisco scored three more times damaging the Rockies’ playoff hopes.

The Rockies maintained a one-game lead over Houston in the wild card race. Colorado, Houston and Chicago have two games left, and the Cubs still could win a wild card by winning their last two games over Houston while Colorado loses twice to the Giants.

Reds 14, Expos 9

Montreal

Cincinnati built a 13-0 lead in the first three innings, then held off a late Montreal charge to beat the Expos.

Mets 6, Braves 3

New York

Rico Brogna drove in three runs with two singles and Bobby Jones scattered seven hits in eight innings as New York extended its winning streak to four with a victory over Atlanta.

Marlins 5, Phillies 2

Miami

Chris Hammond and two relievers combined on a three-hitter as Florida remained in contention for a second-place finish in the N.L. East by beating Philadelphia.

Cardinals 3, Pirates 2

St. Louis

Donovan Osborne won his fourth game of the month - and the season - and St. Louis beat Pittsburgh as the N.L.’s worst two teams began a seasonending three-game series.

Daulton undergoes more surgery

Philadelphia catcher Darren Daulton had arthroscopic operations on his left knee and left shoulder at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Team physician Dr. Phillip Marone removed loose material from Daulton’s knee in the sixth operation on the knee, and repaired a torn rotator cuff.