Colorado Grabs Win Behind Walker’s Hits
National League
Larry Walker tripled twice and doubled, breaking a National League record for consecutive extra-base hits as the Colorado Rockies extended their winning streak to a franchise-record seven games with a 6-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates Wednesday in Denver.
Walker had doubled, tripled and homered in his final three at-bats in Tuesday’s game. He doubled in his first at-bat Wednesday and followed with successive triples before being walked.
Expos 4, Giants 3
San Francisco
Pedro Martinez pitched seven strong innings and scored the go-ahead run after drawing his second walk as Montreal beat San Francisco to avoid a series sweep.
Reds 4, Marlins 1
Cincinnati
Bret Boone singled with the bases loaded in the seventh as Cincinnati beat Florida to end its seven-game losing streak.
Cardinals 5, Astros 2
Houston
Struggling rookie Alan Benes came within two outs of his first shutout and St. Louis beat Houston for its first three-game sweep of the Astros since 1987.
Mets 3, Dodgers 2
Los Angeles
Mark Clark, working on three days’ rest, allowed three hits in seven shutout innings and outdueled Hideo Nomo as New York held off Los Angeles.
Padres 5, Phillies 2
San Diego
Wally Joyner hit two homers and drove in five runs and Joey Hamilton struck out a career-high 10 as San Diego beat Philadelphia.
Braves 9, Cubs 4
Atlanta
Tom Glavine won his fourth straight decision and Chipper Jones hit two homers in a game for the first time in his career as Atlanta defeated Chicago.
Saberhagen done
Colorado’s Bret Saberhagen officially gave up on 1996, deciding to undergo reconstructive surgery on his right shoulder with the hope he can return to pitching next season. Dr. Robert Altchek will perform the operation in New York on Tuesday. He will try to repair Saberhagen’s right rotator cuff and alleviate looseness that remains from arthroscopic surgery Altchek performed last October to repair a torn ligament.
Clearing the bases
The Expos have not been swept in a season series this season. They have swept four series. … Mets pitcher Pete Harnisch, suspended for eight games for starting a brawl against the Chicago Cubs, withdrew his appeal of the suspension. Harnisch began serving the suspension Wednesday night against the Dodgers, and will be eligible to play June 1. … Padres third baseman Ken Caminiti said a strained groin ligament felt much better, and the first-place Padres will rest him at least until Monday.