Giants Whip Slumping Mets
J.T. Snow hit a three-run homer and Wilson Alvarez got his third victory for San Francisco Tuesday night, leading the Giants to a 6-2 win over the skidding Mets in New York.
Snow’s sixth-inning drive sent the Giants to their eighth win in 10 games against New York this season, and kept them on pace with first-place Los Angeles in the N.L. West.
The Mets continued their slide from playoff contention with their 12th loss in 17 games.
Phillies 4, Padres 2
Philadelphia
Mike Grace won in his first major-league appearance since June 1996, pitching seven strong innings to lead Philadelphia over San Diego.
Marlins 11, Cubs 0
Chicago
Unbeaten rookie Livan Hernandez combined with two relievers on a four-hitter to win his eighth consecutive decision and Jeff Conine homered twice as the Florida defeated Chicago.
Conine drove in five runs and Gary Sheffield and Moises Alou also homered for the Marlins, who had 17 hits.
Expos 7, Cardinals 5
St. Louis
Rondell White hit a three-run homer off Dennis Eckersley (0-4) with two outs in the eighth inning as Montreal rallied from a five-run deficit to beat St. Louis.
Eckersley blew a save for the fifth time in 35 chances.
Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire sat out for the second consecutive game because of a bruised left leg but is expected to play today.
Braves 7, Astros 6 (11)
Atlanta
Javy Lopez homered off Billy Wagner with two outs in the 11th inning as Atlanta defeated Houston.
Atlanta, which remained 4-1/2 games ahead of Florida in the N.L. East, won for the fifth time in six games. Houston, the N.L.
Central leader, is three games ahead of Pittsburgh despite losing 7 of 11.
Rockies 9, Reds 5
Denver
Jeff Reed hit a three-run homer in the eighth and Vinny Castilla hit a pair of home runs as Colorado ended a three-game losing streak.
Dodgers 6, Pirates 4
Pittsburgh
Los Angeles aided Pittsburgh’s comeback with two gift runs on a dropped popup, but Pirates rookie outfielder Jose Guillen gave back the lead in the ninth with an errant throw, helping the Dodgers retain the N.L. West lead.
Clearing the bases
Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg, who said Aug. 2 that he’ll retire after the season, will be honored in a ceremony before the Cubs play the Phillies at Wrigley Field on Sept. 20. … Mets manager Bobby Valentine reportedly is close to signing a three-year deal with the club. Valentine’s current contract expires at the end of the season. … Mets pitcher Jason Isringhausen will make his first start of the season today. Isringhausen broke his right wrist in April and was diagnosed with treatable tuberculosis in May.