Kile, Astros Enjoy 7-Game Win Streaks
National League
Darryl Kile won his seventh straight decision, pitching the Houston Astros to their seventh consecutive victory Friday, 5-2 over the visiting Montreal Expos.
Kile (14-3) lowered his ERA to 1.94, allowing only one earned run in his fifth complete game. He matched Atlanta’s Greg Maddux for the most wins in the N.L., giving up seven hits, striking out eight and walking one.
The Astros last won seven in a row from June 29-July 5, 1996. The team record is 10 in a row, accomplished three times and most recently in 1989.
Jeff Bagwell hit a two-run homer in the fifth that put Houston ahead 4-2.
Pirates 5, Giants 2 San Francisco
Jason Schmidt pitched seven strong innings and Kevin Polcovich homered and scored three times as Pittsburgh snapped a three-game losing streak.
Barry Bonds had three of the Giants’ six hits, including his 27th home run. He tied Joe DiMaggio for 43rd on the career list with 361 homers.
Mets 4, Padres 2 San Diego
Carl Everett hit a two-out, two-run single in the eighth inning and New York snapped San Diego’s winning streak at five.
The Mets’ three-run eighth included two errors by two-time N.L. Gold Glove third baseman Ken Caminiti and two straight two-out walks by reliever Tim Worrell (3-7).
Dodgers 8, Phillies 1 Los Angeles
Mike Piazza homered and drove in four runs in his return from a four-game absence.
Piazza hit a three-run homer as he came back from a strained hamstring. Eric Karros also homered and drove in four runs, and pitcher Chan Ho Park doubled and singled to become the first Dodgers pitcher to get two hits in a game this year.
Braves 7, Reds 3 Cincinnati
Jeff Blauser hit his second and Atlanta’s ninth grand slam, the latter matching the N.L. record, and the Braves ruined Jack McKeon’s return to managing.
McKeon, out of managing since 1990, replaced Ray Knight. John Smoltz (9-9) pitched a two-hitter as the Braves remained unbeaten in six games against the Reds this season.
Marlins 5, Cardinals 4 St. Louis
Rookie Livan Hernandez won his fourth straight start and Charles Johnson had a two-run home run and three RBIs.
Hernandez (4-0) allowed five hits and two runs in 6-2/3 innings. He struck out five, walked two and lowered his ERA to 2.89.
Rockies 9, Cubs 3 Denver
Frank Castillo beat the team that traded him July 15, pitching Colorado past Chicago.
Castillo (7-9) won for the first time with the Rockies. His first start for Colorado also came against the Cubs, a no-decision at Wrigley Field.
Padres’ shake-up
A magnitude-4.9 earthquake that jolted San Diego County at 8:14 p.m. was felt by fans at the Padres-Mets game. There were no immediate reports of injury or damage.
Clearing the bases
Montreal leads the major leagues with 19 complete games. … The Cubs’ Sammy Sosa has 192 career homers without hitting a grand slam. … Florida’s Gary Sheffield singled for his 1,000th career hit. … The Giants put right-hander Pat Rapp, acquired from Florida a week ago, on the 15-day disabled list with a rib cage injury and recalled left-hander Doug Creek from Triple-A Phoenix.