Dodgers Finally Make A Left Turn
National League
Dennis Reyes became the first left-hander to start for the Los Angeles Dodgers in nearly five years and pitched six strong innings in his major league debut as he beat the visiting San Francisco Giants 9-3 Sunday.
Reyes (1-0) ended a major-league record 681-game streak of consecutive starts by right-handers for the Dodgers. Bob Ojeda was the last lefty to start for Los Angeles, getting a no-decision against Cincinnati on Sept. 24, 1992, and was the last lefty starter to win, on Aug. 11, 1992, against the Reds.
The Mexican-born Reyes allowed three runs and four hits in six innings, striking out six and walking four. He was promoted from Triple-A Albuquerque last week to replace Ismael Valdes.
Expos 2, Reds 0 Cincinnati
Pedro Martinez pitched a one-hitter and Mike Lansing tripled twice before leaving with heat exhaustion.
Martinez (11-4) pitched his league-leading eighth complete game. He allowed only Bret Boone’s single in the fifth inning, striking out nine, walking one and hitting one.
Padres 13, Rockies 11 Denver
Quilvio Veras hit a go-ahead three-run double as San Diego rallied for five runs in the ninth and sent Colorado to its ninth loss in 10 games.
Tony Gwynn recorded career hit No. 2,700 and extended his hitting streak to 18 games but lost ground in the batting race. Colorado’s Larry Walker went 3 for 4 with four RBIs to raise his average to .406. Gwynn went 1 for 6 and slipped to .398.
Mets 7, Braves 6 (10) Atlanta
Alex Ochoa hit a pinch-hit home run with two outs in the 10th after New York overcame a 6-0 first-inning deficit.
The come-from-behind win was the Mets’ third in the four-game series.
Ochoa’s blast was New York’s seventh pinch-hit homer, best in the majors.
Cardinals 11, Cubs 5 Chicago
Gary Gaetti homered for the fourth time in four days and St. Louis used 20 hits to rout Chicago.
Gaetti’s three-run drive off Steve Trachsel (4-7) was his sixth homer in eight career games at Wrigley Field.
Pirates 5, Astros 3 Pittsburgh
Kevin Polcovich had key hits in consecutive two-run innings and Pittsburgh rallied to beat Houston.
The Pirates split the four-game series and regained a one-game lead in the N.L. Central despite being outscored 20-8.
Clearing the bases
Dodger Greg Gagne ran his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games. … The Padres placed catcher Carlos Hernandez on the 15-day DL with a strained right calf and purchased the contract of catcher Mandy Romero from Triple-A Las Vegas.
Former Spokane outfielder Earl Johnson was designated for assignment. … Willie McGee of St. Louis was placed on the 15-day DL.