Smoltz’s Hot Arm Frustrates Padres
National League
John Smoltz lost his no-hit bid on a questionable double by Tony Gwynn with one out in the seventh inning and led the Atlanta Braves over the host San Diego Padres 4-0.
Smoltz (2-1), who had a perfect game until he walked Marc Newfield with two outs in the sixth, wound up allowing one hit in eight innings. Gwynn reached base when he hit a fly ball deep to left field in the seventh. Ryan Klesko had the ball in his glove at the warning track, but it popped out just before he hit the fence.
Cubs 6, Giants 2
San Francisco
Brian McRae had a three-run double and Ryne Sandberg hit his second homer of the season as Chicago avoided a weekend sweep by beating San Francisco.
McRae’s double into the right-field corner came in a four-run fifth inning. Sandberg homered in the first as the Cubs broke a three-game losing streak.
Reds 5-9, Astros 3-8
Cincinnati
Vince Coleman homered and singled home the go-ahead run as Cincinnati blew a five-run lead but recovered for the victory in the second game of a doubleheader for the sweep of Houston.
Joe Oliver and Eric Davis homered to drive in all of Cincinnati’s runs in a 5-3 first-game win.
Cardinals 6, Phillies 5
St. Louis
Royce Clayton and Willie McGee each drove in two runs as St. Louis, down five runs in the third, rallied for the victory over Philadelphia.
The Cardinals scored three runs in the third and three more in the sixth, with Pat Borders’ hit driving in the go-ahead run.
Dodgers 6, Marlins 1
Los Angeles
Delino DeShields went 3 for 4 and scored three times, and Brett Butler drove in two runs as Los Angeles beat punchless Florida.
The Marlins have scored just five runs in their last five games.
Pirates 5, Expos 2
Pittsburgh
Denny Neagle overcame early trouble to outpitch Pedro Martinez, and Carlos Garcia’s two-run single keyed a four-run fourth inning that led Pittsburgh past Montreal.
Mets 10, Rockies 4
Denver
Jeff Kent homered and drove in three runs, and New York had nine extra-base hits on its way to routing Colorado.
Todd Hundley doubled twice, rookie Rey Ordonez went 4 for 5 with a triple, and Bernard Gilkey homered and drove in two runs as the Mets pounded out 16 hits.
Clearing the bases
Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott went on the field as a game was about to begin to apologize to the umpires for her comments about John McSherry’s fatal collapse on opening day… . San Francisco’s leadoff batters have opened the game with a hit in eight of their last 10 games and have scored in seven of those games.