Sanders Back With Big Bang

Reggie Sanders returned from a two-month stay on the disabled list by hitting a pair of homers, driving in three runs and rallying the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-6 victory Tuesday night over the visiting Florida Marlins.

Sanders had one of three homers in a six-run seventh inning that pulled the Reds out of their four-game losing streak. Mike Kelly and Bret Boone also homered as the Reds batted around for a 7-3 lead.

John Smiley (9-10) gave up five hits and three runs over seven innings to win his fourth consecutive start.

Braves 4-4, Cubs 1-5

Chicago

Greg Maddux needed just 78 pitches to beat his former team - the fewest in a complete game in nearly seven years - as Atlanta defeated Chicago in the opener of a doubleheader.

Chicago won the second game 5-4, scoring the go-ahead run in the eighth on consecutive errors by shortstop Jeff Blauser and third baseman Chipper Jones.

Maddux (14-3) pitched a five-hitter, needing just 2 hours, 7 minutes to become the N.L.’s first 14-game winner. His pitch total, according to Stats Inc., was the lowest in a major-league complete game since Aug. 29, 1990, when Bob Tewksbury threw 76 for St. Louis against Cincinnati.

Kent Bottenfield (2-2) won the second game despite allowing a homer by Andruw Jones.

Rockies 11, Expos 9 (12)

Montreal

Vinny Castilla capped his first career five-hit game with his second homer, a two-run shot with two outs in the 12th inning, to lift Colorado to a victory over Montreal.

Castilla went 5 for 7 with four RBIs and had his 13th career multihomer game, and second of the season.

Giants 8, Phillies 5

San Francisco

Jeff Kent’s two-run homer in the seventh inning, his second of the game, gave San Francisco the lead, and J.T. Snow added a three-run shot later in the inning as the Giants defeated Philadelphia.

Barry Bonds hit his 25th homer of the year for the Giants.

Padres 3, Pirates 2

San Diego

Greg Vaughn’s infield single scored Chris Jones with the winning run, capping a two-run rally in the ninth inning that gave San Diego a victory.

Trevor Hoffman (4-4) pitched one-third of an inning for the win, the Padres’ sixth in seven games.

Astros 4, Cardinals 2

St. Louis

Mike Hampton (7-7) broke a tie with a two-run single in a four-run fifth as Houston improved to 9-3 since the All-Star break with a win over St. Louis.

Dodgers 8, Mets 3

Los Angeles

Raul Mondesi, Tom Prince and Billy Ashley homered, and Tripp Cromer added a three-run double as Los Angeles beat New York and stopped the Mets’ five-game winning streak.

Clearing the bases

The Florida Marlins added Darren Daulton to the roster, a day after they acquired him in a trade, and designated reliever Matt Whisenant for assignment to the minors.

… The Cincinnati Reds designated utility infielder Jeff Branson for assignment.