Cards Cut Astros’ Streak
National League
The Houston Astros fell one victory short of tying the longest winning streak in team history, losing 2-1 to the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night to snap their nine-game victory string.
The Astros, comfortably in front in the N.L. Central, were unable to tie the team record of 10 straight victories accomplished five times, most recently May 26-June 4, 1989.
Todd Stottlemyre and Dennis Eckersley combined on a six-hitter for the Cardinals, and Stottlemyre drove in the eventual winning run with an eighth-inning double that raised his batting average to .279.
Stottlemyre (10-7) allowed five hits in eight innings, struck out seven and walked one.
Dodgers 4, Pirates 2
Los Angeles
Ismael Valdes, in his return from the disabled list, worked six strong innings despite a blister on his pitching thumb and Greg Gagne hit a tie-breaking, two-run homer for Los Angeles.
It was the fourth consecutive victory for the Dodgers and put them a season-high eight games over .500 and one game behind the idle San Francisco Giants in the N.L. West.
Braves 6, Cubs 0
Atlanta
Denny Neagle pitched a three-hitter and Fred McGriff hit a three-run homer as Atlanta sent Chicago to its fifth consecutive defeat.
Neagle (14-2) limited Chicago to three singles in tossing his third shutout of the season.
Reds 4, Marlins 0
Miami
Joe Oliver’s three-run home run broke a scoreless tie in the ninth inning and John Smiley combined with two relievers on a shutout for Cincinnati.
The Marlins lost their third in a row and fell into third place in the N.L. East. They are 8-9 since the All-Star break.
Phillies 8, Padres 4
San Diego
Rico Brogna hit a three-run homer and Ricky Otero a two-run single in the sixth for Philadelphia.
Rookie Scott Rolen hit a two-run homer in the eighth, his 13th, and Otero, Kevin Stocker and Mike Lieberthal had three hits apiece for the Phillies.
Expos 3, Rockies 2
Denver
Doug Strange hit a two-run homer and Henry Rodriguez had a tie-breaking triple to help Montreal avoid its first six-game losing streak in almost two years.
The Expos, who hadn’t lost six straight games since Aug. 19-24, 1995, also ended Colorado’s five-game winning streak.
Two rain delays lasted a total of 2 hours, 35 minutes.
Clearing the bases
The Cardinals’ Dennis Eckersley became the fifth pitcher to appear in 1,000 games. The others are Hoyt Wilhelm, Kent Tekulve, Goose Gossage and Lee Smith… . The Astros are 14-3 since the All-Star break… . Colorado outfielder Dante Bichette was selected National League player of the week after driving in 13 of the Rockies’ 26 runs in a weekend series against the Cubs… . Braves outfielder Kenny Lofton, who has played only one game in the past six weeks because of a groin injury, has returned from the DL.