Phillips Called Late, But Responds Fast
National League
J.R. Phillips, a late addition to the lineup, hit two home runs and a double as the Philadelphia Phillies ended a five-game losing streak Friday night with a 7-3 win over the visiting Montreal Expos.
The Phillies rapped a season-high 16 hits. Benito Santiago hit a three-run homer in the second inning and Phillips followed with a home run.
Reds 7, Cubs 4
Cincinnati
Reggie Sanders homered in his first two at-bats off Frank Castillo, and Hal Morris added a solo shot, powering Cincinnati to victory over Chicago.
The Reds’ sixth straight win improved their record to three games under .500 (35-38) for the first time since May 14.
Marlins 2, Braves 0
Miami
Al Leiter pitched seven scoreless innings and Jeff Conine drove in both runs as Florida beat Atlanta for its fourth straight win.
Leiter (9-6) repeatedly pitched out of trouble, allowing seven hits and three walks.
Cardinals 6, Pirates 1
St. Louis
Donovan Osborne allowed five hits in eight innings and John Mabry and Ron Gant each homered, leading St. Louis past Pittsburgh.
Osborne, (7-4) struck out five and walked one as the Cardinals reached the .500 mark for the fifth time in the past 11 days. Osborne has won four of his last five decisions.
Mets 7, Astros 2
Houston
Mark Clark won for the seventh time in eight decisions and rookie Alex Ochoa went 3 for 4 to lift New York to a win over Houston.
Rockies 13, Dodgers 4
Denver
Dante Bichette, Andres Galarraga and Vinny Castilla hit home runs as Colorado battered Los Angeles pitching for the second straight game.
The win drew the Rockies within a half game of the N.L. West-leading Dodgers, who dropped their fourth straight game - all under interim manager Bill Russell, who took over for the ailing Tom Lasorda.
Padres 6, Giants 1
San Francisco
Andy Ashby pitched five scoreless innings before leaving with shoulder stiffness, and Chris Gwynn hit a three-run homer as San Diego beat San Francisco, the Giants’ eighth straight loss.
Clearing the bases
New York’s Bernard Gilkey leads the majors with 23 go-ahead RBIs, but ended a 10-game hitting streak by going 0 for 4. … Pittsburgh’s Jeff King needs one more home run to set a career record of 19 and have the most home runs in a season for the Pirates since Barry Bonds hit 34 in 1992. … Phillies team doctor Phillip Marone has determined that pitcher Sid Fernandez will be out for approximately six weeks because of a sprained ligament in his left elbow.
The Cubs activated Mark Grace from the disabled list before the game and he went 1 for 4. … Florida’s Gary Sheffield, who came into the game with 65 bases on balls, two behind league leader Jeff Bagwell of Houston, tied a Marlins’ record by being walked four times.