Rockies’ Walker Blasts 3 Hrs

National League

Larry Walker hit a career-high three home runs and the Colorado Rockies connected a team-record seven times - on the road, no less - in a 15-3 romp Saturday over the Montreal Expos.

Walker, who leads the majors with six homers, became the second player this season to hit three in a game. Tino Martinez hit three for the New York Yankees on Wednesday in Seattle.

Walker hit solo shots in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings. He left the game for a defensive replacement in the eighth inning.

Giants 2, Mets 0 San Francisco

Pinch-hitter Rick Wilkins lined a two-run double in the eighth inning to give San Francisco the victory.

Starters William VanLandingham of the Giants and Rick Reed of the Mets each pitched seven scoreless innings.

Astros 6, Cardinals 2 Houston

St. Louis fell to 0-5 for the fifth time in franchise history. The defending N.L. Central champions, who lost their first three games of the season in Montreal, dropped their second straight in Houston to remain winless in 1997.

St. Louis also started the 1902, 1919, 1960 and 1973 seasons by losing its first five games.

Marlins 4, Reds 3 (11) Miami

Edgar Renteria tied the game in the ninth inning with an inside-the-park homer, and delivered an RBI single in the 11th.

Luis Castillo led off 11th with a walk, stole second and continued to third when catcher Brook Fordyce’s throw rolled behind second base. He scored with none out on Renteria’s fly over a drawn-in outfield.

Pirates 3, Dodgers 1 Los Angeles

Chan Ho Park had a rough start in his first night as a member of the Dodgers’ starting rotation, allowing a two-run homer to Jermaine Allensworth in the first inning of Pittsburgh’s win.

Padres 4, Phillies 1 San Diego

Sterling Hitchcock, making his first N.L. start, gave up one hit in eight innings in San Diego’s win.

Hitchcock, acquired in an off-season trade with Seattle, allowed only Rico Brogna’s double in the fifth inning. The left-hander, who made his N.L. debut in relief on Wednesday against the New York Mets, struck out five and walked one.

Braves 8, Cubs 5 (susp.) Atlanta

After nearly 4 hours of rain, umpires suspended game after 6-1/2 innings, with the Braves leading by three. The game was to resume this afternoon.

Gwynn extends contract

Tony Gwynn, arguably the best pure hitter of his time, signed a three-year, $12.6 million contract extension that will keep him with the San Diego Padres through 2000, when he turns 40.

The left-hander, who’s won seven N.L. batting titles in 14 seasons and is a lifetime .337 hitter, was in the final year of a two-year extension that included a Padres option for 1998. The Padres exercised that option and added two years. He’ll earn $4 million in 1998 and $4.3 million in 1999 and 2000.

Clearing the bases

Expos right-hander Pedro Martinez, with three games left on his eight-game suspension, threw a 60-pitch simulated game in preparation for his first start, Thursday at St. Louis. Montreal’s ace was slapped with the suspension for charging the mound last Sept. 24, igniting a brawl with the Phillies. … St. Louis’ Delino DeShields sprained his left ankle running out a groundout in the third inning and left the game. X-rays were negative and his status is day-to-day.