National League Roundup : Reuschel Flirts With No-Hitter

This seems to be another season when potential no-hitters are broken up in late innings.

Rick Reuschel’s attempt became the latest disappointment as he retired the first 20 batters before giving up his only hit in eight innings, a single to Tom Herr, in the San Francisco Giants’ 6-0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday night at Philadelphia.

Reuschel, who turned 40 Tuesday, struck out six and walked one before he was relieved by Jeff Brantley, who retired the Phillies in order in the ninth for a combined one-hitter.

“You don’t think about perfect games, no-hitters at my age,” Reuschel said. “You don’t expect no-hitters. When you get in that neighborhood, it’s nice.”

The victory made Reuschel (7-2) the National League’s first seven-game winner. Reuschel, who won his 200th game last Friday, had a perfect game until Herr grounded a clean single over first base with two outs in the seventh.

“I was going to battle him, get some good swings,” Herr said. “I figured if he got by me, he might have a shot at it. I was trying to find a hole somewhere.”

Herr tried to stretch it into a double but was thrown out by right fielder Candy Maldonado. The hit spoiled Reuschel’s bid for his first no-hitter.

San Diego 6, Montreal 5--Rob Nelson’s three-run homer snapped a sixth-inning tie as the Padres swept a three-game series at Montreal.

Mark Grant (1-1) pitched four shutout innings in relief of Bruce Hurst for the victory, and Greg Harris got the last out with the bases loaded for his second save.

Mark Davis, who failed to get a save for the first time in 14 opportunities, loaded the bases with none out in the ninth. After Otis Nixon struck out, Andres Galarraga produced a run-scoring fielder’s choice, and Hubie Brooks added an RBI double.

Montreal starter Pascual Perez (0-6) struck out 10 in six innings, but his effort was marred by four unearned runs.

Cincinnati 5, Pittsburgh 4--Reliever Bill Landrum needed to get only one out to help the Pirates escape the 10th inning at Cincinnati.

But with two outs, Landrum gave up a single to Paul O’Neill, then walked three consecutive batters as the Reds won.

Bo Diaz, who was hitting .150, walked on four consecutive pitches to force home the game-winner.

Landrum had walked Todd Benzinger and Rolando Roomes to bring up Diaz.

Chicago 4, Atlanta 0--Jeff Pico pitched seven shutout innings in his first start of the season as the Cubs completed their first home sweep of the Braves since 1984.

Pico (2-0) allowed four hits, walked three and struck out three before he was relieved by Pat Perry, who preserved the shutout in the final two innings.

Houston 3, St. Louis 2--Pinch-runner Eric Yelding slid home with the winning run on Craig Biggio’s ninth-inning grounder as the Astros rallied for their fifth consecutive victory in a game at Houston.

It was St. Louis’ fifth consecutive loss.

Bill Doran and Glenn Davis hit singles off starter Joe Magrane to begin the two-run rally in the ninth. Cris Carpenter relieved and gave up an infield single to Kevin Bass, loading the bases.

Doran scored the tying run on Billy Hatcher’s ground-out to third baseman Terry Pendleton. After Ken Caminiti was intentionally walked, Biggio hit a slow roller toward first baseman Jim Lindeman, who stepped on the bag and then threw home. But Yelding slid under the tag for the winning run.