Dodgers Stay Hot, Trample Giants

National League

Ismael Valdes allowed four hits in 8-2/3 innings and Raul Mondesi went 4 for 4 as the Los Angeles Dodgers sent the San Francisco Giants to their seventh straight defeat, 6-1 Friday night.

The Giants have lost 17 of their last 19 and have fallen 9-1/2 games behind the Dodgers in the N.L. West.

Valdes (10-5) struck out nine, walked two and allowed one runner as far as third base.

Dodgers interim manager Bill Russell replaced Valdes, who had thrown 136 pitches, with Scott Radinsky after Stan Javier singled with two outs in the ninth. Robby Thompson hit an RBI single off Radinsky.

N.L. batting leader Mike Piazza homered and drove in a pair of runs.

Astros 3, Mets 1

New York

Shane Reynolds beat New York for the third time this season and Derrick May hit a two-run single in the first inning for Houston.

The Astros snapped a three-game losing streak and remained percentage points behind first-place St. Louis in the N.L. Central in a game played during a light rain from the third inning on.

Braves 6, Marlins 3

Atlanta

Chipper Jones hit a two-run homer during a three-run seventh that lifted Atlanta over Florida.

Reds 5, Pirates 2

Cincinnati

Mark Portugal won his fifth consecutive start with the help of Eddie Taubensee and Reggie Sanders, who homered to lift Cincinnati past Pittsburgh.

The Reds scored three runs in the first off Danny Darwin (7-9) and held on to snap the Pirates’ five-game winning streak at Riverfront Stadium.

Phillies 5, Expos 3

Montreal

Terry Mulholland beat Montreal again with a complete game and Todd Zeile homered, leading Philadelphia past Montreal.

Cardinals 13, Cubs 3

Chicago

Gary Gaetti and Ron Gant each hit two of St. Louis’ seven homers, and the Cardinals routed Chicago for their eighth win in 11 games.

Brian Jordan, John Mabry and Ray Lankford also homered for St. Louis, which tied a Cardinals record set on May 7, 1940, against the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Rockies 13, Padres 12

Denver

Vinny Castilla’s grand slam highlighted an 11-run seventh inning, and Colorado rallied to beat San Diego in a game delayed twice by rain for a total of 2 hours and 22 minutes.

Maddux misses one start

Four-time Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux was scratched from his start when Atlanta played Florida because of a cracked toenail on his right foot. Maddux split the nail on his big toe in a 9-1 victory over Houston last Sunday when he fouled a pitch off his foot.

Galarraga ties record

Colorado slugger Andres Galarraga tied a major-league record Friday night when he was hit by a pitch twice in the seventh inning against San Diego.

Gwynn cast in painful role

Tony Gwynn, who is on the disabled list, returned to the Padres after being examined Thursday in Oakland by Dr. Robert Mann. He confirmed that Gwynn has a partial tear and fraying in his right Achilles tendon.

Gwynn will remain in a cast for at least three weeks and then undergo one or two weeks of rehabilitation.