Smoltz Cools Off Red-Hot Rockies

National League

John Smoltz, pitching after Colorado had scored 32 runs in the first two games of the series, restored order for the visiting Atlanta Braves by beating the Rockies 8-3 Sunday for his major-league-leading 12th victory.

Smoltz (12-1) allowed seven hits through 8-1/3 innings and won his 12th straight decision.

Colorado had pummeled the Atlanta staff - the best in baseball - for 36 hits in the first two games at Coors Field. Smoltz, who helped his own cause with a two-run double, struck out nine and walked two.

Ryan Klesko had two hits including a two-run homer, his 20th, for the Braves. Jeff Blauser drove in three runs with a single and triple.

The Rockies scored three runs in the ninth on John Vander Wal’s RBI single and Trenidad Hubbard’s two-run homer, his first. Atlanta reliever Mark Wohlers recorded the final two outs.

The Braves scored three runs off loser Mark Thompson (3-6) in the second.

Mets 3, Marlins 0

New York

Jason Isringhausen allowed six hits and struck out a career-high 10 in his first major league shutout, and Butch Huskey homered as New York beat Florida.

The 25-year old Isringhausen (3-7), who had five losses and a no-decision in his previous six starts, retired 14 of the last 16 batters he faced. He escaped a jam in the ninth inning, retiring Terry Pendleton on a popup after Gary Sheffield and Greg Colbrunn had singled.

Cubs 4, Expos 2

Chicago

Ryne Sandberg hit a three-run homer into the fog, and Steve Trachsel lowered his ERA to 2.38 as Chicago edged Montreal.

Trachsel (4-4) gave up four hits and walked none over seven innings.

Kirk Rueter (2-4) gave up three hits, walked one and struck out four.

Astros 2, Phillies 1

Houston

Ricky Gutierrez continued his torrid hitting with a two-run single in the seventh inning, and Houston cruised to a three-game sweep over Philadelphia.

Gutierrez’s decisive hit was the ninth in his last 11 at-bats, raising his average to .340.

Starter Mike Hampton pitched six innings, allowing a run on seven hits while walking one and striking out one. Anthony Young (2-2) pitched the seventh for the victory, and Todd Jones worked the last two innings, barely surviving for his 12th save.

Giants 9, Cardinals 0

San Francisco

Allen Watson pitched seven innings and had a key RBI during a six-run sixth inning as San Francisco pounded St. Louis.

Watson (6-6) scattered seven hits and broke a personal three-game losing streak, walking two and striking out four.

Dodgers 3, Reds 2

Los Angeles

Eric Karros had three hits, including a tie-breaking RBI double in the eighth inning, as Los Angeles rallied to beat Cincinnati.

Hideo Nomo (7-5) received credit for the victory. He was replaced by a pinch hitter during the Dodgers’ winning rally against reliever Lee Smith (0-1).

Los Angeles entered the inning trailing 2-1. Karros’ 11th homer had been their only run.

Pirates 6, Padres 0

San Diego

Danny Darwin pitched eight innings, and Pittsburgh pulled off a three-game sweep of San Diego, which committed a season-high four errors to prolong its worst slump of the season.

While the Pirates were winning for the seventh time in eight games, the first-place Padres lost for the sixth time in seven. It was the first time the Padres were swept at home since San Francisco won a four-game series at San Diego in May 1995.

Clearing the bases

Barry Bonds’ string of at-bats without a home run has reached 90. He has not homered since hitting what was his major-league-leading 17th homer May 11… . Baserunners had been 20 for 20 stealing against San Diego catcher Brian Johnson until he threw out Pittsburgh’s Mark Johnson in Sunday’s fifth inning… . Colorado outfielder Larry Walker will be out at least eight weeks after fracturing his left collarbone by crashing into the center-field wall at Coors Field.