Bonds’ Long Ball Spares Relief Ace
Barry Bonds hit a solo home run in the 10th inning as the San Francisco Giants overcame a rare failure by Rod Beck and beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-2 Wednesday night at Cincinnati.
The Giants’ fourth consecutive victory improved their record to 23-13, their best start in 24 years. They opened the 1973 season at 25-11.
Cincinnati (11-26) is off to its worst start in 47 years.
Expos 9, Padres 7 Montreal
Rondell White hit a go-ahead RBI double in the eighth inning, leading Montreal to a win over San Diego, which had two pitchers ejected for hitting batters.
In a game where four Expos were hit, San Diego starter Tim Worrell was ejected in the second by plate umpire Charlie Reliford for hitting Expos starter Jeff Juden in the back. Tim Scott was tossed in the seventh after hitting consecutive batters, Mark Grudzielanek and Mike Lansing.
Dodgers 6, Cubs 4 Chicago
Nelson Liriano doubled to start a game-tying rally in the eighth, then hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning as Los Angeles beat Chicago.
Pirates 15, Rockies 10 Pittsburgh
Kevin Young’s two-run pinch double put Pittsburgh ahead and Al Martin finished a nine-run eighth inning with a grand slam as first-place Pittsburgh rallied past Colorado.
Marlins 4, Braves 3 Atlanta
Edgar Renteria’s RBI single scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning as Florida denied Denny Neagle in his bid to become the N.L.’s first seven-game winner by defeating Atlanta.
Neagle, who had won six straight decisions, left with a 3-2 lead after six innings, but Mike Bielecki (1-3) couldn’t stop the Marlins, who won their fourth straight.
Astros 1, Mets 0 New York
Darryl Kile pitched four-hit ball for eight innings, and pinch-hitter Craig Biggio’s sacrifice fly in the ninth gave Houston the win.
Biggio, in his first pinch-hitting appearance of the season, drove in the lone run with a bases-loaded fly to the left-field fence.
Cardinals 12, Phillies 3 Philadelphia
Ray Lankford had three hits, including a two-run homer, and pinch-hitter Gary Gaetti doubled home two runs in a three-run fifth inning as St. Louis beat Philadelphia.
Lankford, hitting .400 (28 for 70), has reached base in 19 of 20 games since returning April 22 from a torn rotator cuff.
Clearing the bases
Expos left-hander Rheal Cormier, on the disabled list since April 12 with acute tendinitis in his pitching elbow, agreed to undergo surgery and could be sidelined for the rest of the season. Cormier opted for the procedure after experiencing a setback Tuesday while throwing on the side… . The Cubs have committed 42 errors in 36 games. … Cincinnati shortstop Barry Larkin had another cortisone shot in his sore left heel before the game and was out of the lineup. … Houston’s Derek Bell was a late scratch because of a nagging injury to his left calf.