Caminiti Postpones Dodgers’ Celebration
National League
Ken Caminiti tied the score with a solo homer in the eighth and doubled in the go-ahead run in the 10th Friday night as the San Diego Padres beat the host Los Angeles Dodgers 5-2 and clinched at least a tie for a wild-card spot.
The Dodgers, who lead the National League West by one game with two to play, clinched a playoff spot either as the division winner or the wild-card team when Montreal lost to Atlanta 6-4 earlier in the night.
Giants 9, Rockies 3
Denver
Barry Bonds joined the 40-40 club and Rick Wilkins’ three-run homer highlighted a seven-run seventh inning as San Francisco took advantage of wild Colorado pitching.
Bonds, who has 42 homers, stole his 40th base to join Jose Canseco as the only players in major league history to hit 40 homers and swipe 40 bases in the same season. Canseco had identical numbers for Oakland in 1988.
Braves 6, Expos 4
Atlanta
John Smoltz set an Atlanta record with his 24th win as the Braves dealt a blow to Montreal’s playoff hopes.
Atlanta used seven pitchers and Montreal used eight, combining to tie the major league record for most pitchers in a nine-inning game, set on Sept. 7, 1993 by St. Louis (8) and Cincinnati (7).
Cardinals 2, Reds 1 (11)
St. Louis Ron Gant singled home Luis Alicea with two outs in the 11th inning as N.L. Central champion St. Louis won its fourth straight.
St. Louis manager Tony La Russa kept most of his regulars in the lineup to keep them sharp for the playoffs. However, the Cardinals managed only five hits over the first nine innings against John Smiley.
Marlins 3, Astros 2
Houston
Rookie Mark Hutton allowed three hits in eight innings and hit his first major league home run as Florida beat Houston for the seventh straight time.
Darryl Kile (12-11) lost his third straight game, allowing two runs and six hits in seven innings.
Phillies 6, Mets 5
New York
Ruben Amaro’s RBI double capped a three-run eighth inning that gave Philadelphia the win over New York.
Pinch-hitter Kevin Stocker and Ricky Otero hit consecutive singles to open the eighth. Desi Relaford sacrificed both runners before Mets first baseman Butch Huskey misplayed Dave Doster’s grounder, allowing Stocker to score and tie the game at 4.
Pirates 7-9, Cubs 4-10
Chicago
Jose Hernandez scored from second base on a wild pitch and throwing error with two outs in the ninth inning as Chicago gained a split of the doubleheader.
In the first game, Orlando Merced’s infield RBI single ignited a three-run 10th, and Nelson Liriano added a two-run single for the Pirates.
Phillies mum on Fregosi
Philadelphia Phillies officials wouldn’t comment on a report night that manager Jim Fregosi would be replaced by third-base coach Larry Bowa.
Team president Bill Giles wouldn’t comment when reached at his suburban Philadelphia home late Friday night. Asked if reports of a change were just speculation Giles said “that is correct.”
Philadelphia television station WPHL reported that the Phillies had decided to replace Fregosi.
Clearing the bases
Reds pinch hitters have 11 homers, one short of the major league record held by the 1957 Reds and 1983 New York Mets. … Marquis Grissom, traded to Atlanta by the Expos prior to last season, is 41 for 88 (.466) against Montreal. … Chicago’s Ryne Sandberg needs one home run to tie Joe Morgan with 266 on the career list for second basemen. Sandberg also needs four RBIs to reach 1,000 in his career. … Montreal Expos right-hander Pedro Martinez, suspended for eight games following a bench-clearing brawl with the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday, appealed the penalty on Friday.