Dodgers Rip Pads To Increase Margin
National League
Eric Karros, Mike Piazza and Raul Mondesi vs. Jody Reed. No contest.
The N.L. West showdown between Los Angeles and San Diego turned into a mismatch Saturday in San Diego, when the Dodgers used a seven-run fifth inning to win 9-2 for a 1-game lead over the Padres.
Ismael Valdes (15-7) re-established Dodgers pitching dominance, allowing only three hits - including Reed’s two-run homer - in seven innings. He struck out seven and walked two.
After Karros hit his career-high 33rd homer in the fourth, Los Angeles sent 11 batters to the plate in the fifth. Mondesi, who was 4 for 5, hit a three-run double and Piazza had a bases-loaded, two-run single.
Braves 5, Expos 4 Atlanta
Atlanta is one win away from another trip to the playoffs following a win over Montreal.
The World Series champions can clinch the N.L. East title and a fifth straight postseason appearance with a win over Montreal today. Atlanta has won six of its last seven.
Giants 6, Rockies 2 San Francisco
Colorado, which won the N.L. wild-card spot last year in just its third season, was eliminated from playoff contention with a loss to San Francisco.
The Rockies lost for the fifth time in six games, and fell out of the wild-card race. Colorado dropped to 26-52 on the road, the worst in the league.
Marlins 2, Astros 1 Miami
Jeff Conine and Devon White hit consecutive home runs to start the ninth inning and Florida beat Houston, handing the Astros’ slim playoff chances another blow with their seventh consecutive loss.
Houston, 0-7 on its current eight-game road trip, fell 5 games behind N.L. Central leader St. Louis with seven games remaining. The Astros were eliminated from wild-card contention late Friday when San Diego beat Los Angeles.
Phillies 2, Mets 1 Philadelphia
Curt Schilling again beat the Mets, striking out 10 in his N.L.-leading eighth complete game as Philadelphia defeated New York.
Schilling (9-9) allowed only five hits and improved to 8-1 lifetime against the Mets.
Pirates 8, Cubs 3 Pittsburgh
Last-place Pittsburgh won its 10th straight game, beating Chicago with a three-run homer by Jay Bell.
The Pirates’ winning streak is their longest since an 11-game string in 1992. Pittsburgh and Seattle have the majors’ longest streaks this year.
Cards, Reds, ppd. Cincinnati
The game between St. Louis and Cincinnati was postponed because of rain and will be made up as a doubleheader today.
Clearing the bases
Andre Dawson received four standing ovations during an emotional 50-minute tribute prior to the game between the Florida Marlins and Houston Astros in Miami. The 42-year-old Miami native announced last month that he’ll retire at the end of the season. … The sellout crowd of 53,629 was the sixth San Diego crowd of more than 50,000 this season, tying the Padres’ record set in 1985. … San Francisco had its first three-game winning streak since Aug. 7-9. … Curt Schilling of Philadelphia needs four more innings to reach 180 and receive a $100,000 bonus in his contract. … Chicago reliever Bob Patterson has appeared in a career-high 74 games. The Cubs’ record is 76, set by Mitch Williams in 1987. … Fred McGriff’s double was his 36th this year, three shy of Atlanta’s club record set by Terry Pendleton in 1992.