Rueter Pitches Better Than He Runs

Kirk Rueter won the game with his pitching after making it tough on himself with his baserunning.

“I don’t get on the bases too much,” admitted Rueter, who was tagged out in an odd triple play Saturday in San Francisco’s 4-2 win over the Chicago Cubs.

Rueter (2-0) allowed four hits, struck out a career-high eight and walked none. Rueter’s baserunning, however, was not quite as sharp in the fifth inning when the Cubs turned the first triple play in the majors this season.

The Giants led 3-0 when Rueter opened with his first single of the season off Amaury Telemaco (0-2) and took second on Darryl Hamilton’s single.

Stan Javier then lofted a fly into shallow center field and second-base umpire Bob Davidson waited before calling the infield fly rule - meaning Javier was automatically out and the runners could advance at their own risk.

Battling the sun and wind at a park known for notorious conditions, three Cubs lunged for the ball before it bounced off center fielder Brian McRae’s glove and hit the ground.

Rueter took off for third and was thrown out. Hamilton hesitated and then tried for second, but third baseman Jose Hernandez’s throw to Ryne Sandberg beat him for the third out.

Braves 9, Pirates 3 Pittsburgh

Jeff Blauser hit a grand slam an inning after Ryan Klesko and Javy Lopez homered in succession, and Atlanta finally solved Pittsburgh’s starting pitching.

Blauser’s fourth career grand slam made it 7-0 in the third and allowed former Pirates starter Denny Neagle (6-0) to coast to a career-high sixth consecutive victory.

Neagle, the N.L.’s first six-game winner, heard a smattering of boos while giving up three runs and six hits and striking out nine in his first appearance against his former team.

Phillies 5, Rockies 4 (10) Philadelphia

Darren Daulton’s two-run homer with two outs in the 10th inning lifted Philadelphia over Colorado.

Gregg Jefferies opened the inning with a single off Steve Reed (0-1), but was forced on Mickey Morandini’s grounder. After Scott Rolen struck out, Daulton hit his third homer of the season.

Padres 9, Reds 6 San Diego

John Flaherty and Steve Finley each hit two-run doubles during a six-run third inning that led San Diego to victory over Cincinnati.

San Diego won for just the fifth time in 20 games, and for only the third time in its last 12 home games.

Mets 2, Cardinals 0 St. Louis

Bobby Jones and John Franco combined on a three-hitter and John Olerud homered as New York reached .500 for the first time in over a year in a victory over St. Louis.

The Mets (18-18) finally reached .500 after three tries this season and for the first time since April 5, 1996, when they were 2-2.

Astros 4, Marlins 2 Miami

Pinch-hitter Ricky Gutierrez singled in the go-ahead runs in the fifth inning to lead Houston over Florida.

The Marlins lost for just the fifth time in 20 games at Pro Player Stadium before a sellout crowd of 42,132, the club’s largest at home since July 3, 1994, against Atlanta.

Dodgers 2, Expos 1 Los Angeles

Pinch-hitter Eddie Williams, batting for just the second time this season, singled home Todd Zeile with two outs in the ninth inning to give Los Angeles the victory.

Clearing the bases

Kirk Rueter lowered his ERA to 1.81 and has pitched 20 straight scoreless innings. He is 2-0 with a 0.66 ERA in four day starts for the Giants. … The Pittsburgh crowd of 30,143 on a drizzly, 45-degree night was the Pirates’ largest since an opening-night sellout.

Larry Walker has hit 10 of his N.L.-leading 13 homers for Colorado on the road this season. … John Olerud has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games (.354, 17 for 48) and has driven in 14 runs in his last 13 games.