Giants Stirred, Not Shaken, To Victory
National League
Robby Thompson’s second RBI single of the game broke a tie in the sixth, three innings after a mild earthquake, as the San Francisco Giants went on to win their fourth straight game at 3Com Park, 8-5 over the Montreal Expos on Tuesday.
A 4.8 earthquake struck 60 miles southeast of the ballpark in the top of the third inning, causing the press box suspended below the upper deck to shake. But the tremor went unnoticed by players and umpires on the field, and the game continued without interruption.
Cubs 4, Braves 2
Atlanta
Sammy Sosa hit a two-run double with two outs in the ninth inning, giving Chicago a win over Atlanta. Sosa was 0 for 5 in his career against Mark Wohlers (0-1) before the drive into the left-center field gap.
Marlins 3, Reds 2
Cincinnati
Florida moved its record above .500 for the first time in nearly two years as David Weathers homered and pitched six shutout innings.
Cardinals 8, Astros 2
Houston
John Mabry went 4 for 5 as St. Louis overcame a 12-strikeout performance by Shane Reynolds and beat Houston.
Dodgers 6, Mets 4
Los Angeles
Mike Piazza and Eric Karros hit two-run homers and Ismael Valdes won for the fifth time in six starts as Los Angeles beat New York.
Phillies 5, Padres 4
San Diego
Pitcher Terry Mulholland nearly became the 13th player to homer into the second deck at Jack Murphy Stadium, hitting a 407-foot shot in Philadelphia’s win.
Rockies 12, Pirates 10
Denver
Larry Walker hit two homers, a triple and a double and drove in a career-high six runs, powering Colorado to its sixth straight victory.
Good news for Butler
Brett Butler could return to the field with the Dodgers next year if he recovers from cancer as expected, Butler’s doctor said after removing a cancerous lymph node from the outfielder’s neck in a 3-hour operation.
“I wouldn’t rule that out. I couldn’t speak for Brett; you’d have to ask him. But medically, sure, he could go back,” said Dr. William Grist, who performed the surgery at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.
Clearing the bases
The Giants expect to activate catcher Kirt Manwaring off the disabled list for this weekend’s series against Philadelphia. … Colorado’s Bret Saberhagen was heading back to New York to have his ailing shoulder examined by Mets physician Dr. David Altchek. Altchek will examine the shoulder in hopes of determining if reconstructive surgery is necessary to eliminate the pain that flared again Monday when Saberhagen threw 30 pitches.
Atlanta second baseman Mark Lemke left the game in the seventh inning with a bruised left hand. . … Reds right-fielder Reggie Sanders is expected to come off the disabled list Thursday.
St. Louis’ Ozzie Smith tied Babe Ruth for 34th place on the career games played list. Smith started Tuesday night and has played in 2,503 games. … Ken Caminiti (sore groin) will be evaluated today and the Padres will decide in the next few days if he’ll go on the D.L.. … Phillies outfielder Lenny Dykstra was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Sunday with a strained muscle in his rib cage.