Garrelts Lets One Get Away, and Astros Win

Billy Hatcher scored on a wild pitch by San Francisco’s Scott Garrelts with two out in the ninth inning Wednesday as the Houston Astros defeated the Giants, 3-2, and took over sole possession of second place in the National League West

The Astros have won 17 of their last 23 games. Houston and San Francisco began the day tied for second, 4 1/2 games behind the Dodgers, who were scheduled to play Cincinnati at night.

Mike Scott (11-3) pitched five-hit ball for eight innings to beat the Giants at Candlestick Park for the first time since 1985. Scott didn’t allow a walk and struck out seven. Dave Smith retired the side in order in the ninth for his 19th save.

The bases were loaded and Garrelts (3-6) had an 0-2 count on pinch-hitter Glenn Davis when he threw the wild pitch into the dirt. The winning rally began when Hatcher singled with one out. Garrelts walked pinch-hitter Terry Puhl and Rafael Ramirez flied out to center, with Hatcher tagging and going to third.

Garrelts then walked another pinch-hitter, Craig Reynolds, before facing Davis, the regular first baseman who had not played in a week because of a pulled hamstring.

Alex Trevino led off the third with a double. Scott sacrificed and Gerald Young followed with an RBI single. The Giants tied the score in the fourth on singles by Will Clark, Kevin Mitchell and Candy Maldonado.

The Giants took a 2-1 lead with an unearned run in the fifth and the Astros made it 2-2 with an unearned run in the sixth.

Bob Melvin, leading off for the Giants in the fifth, reached second base when second baseman Bill Doran, looking up into the bright sky, dropped a popup in short right field. Pitcher Joe Price sacrificed Melvin to third and Brett Butler bunted the run home on a suicide squeeze play.

The Astros also could thank the sun for their run in the sixth. Young walked after first baseman Clark, looking into the sun, dropped a foul popup. Young stole second, his 55th stolen base of the season, and scored on a two-out single by Kevin Bass.

Price, a reliever forced into a starting role because of recent injuries to other pitchers, allowed only four hits in 5 innings.