NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Astros Win Final Road Test, Head Home

After traveling to eight cities for 26 games in 28 days, the Houston Astros were happy Sunday when their marathon trip finally ended.

And to make sure it concluded on a high note, the Astros beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 3-1, at Philadelphia, completing their first three-game sweep at Veterans Stadium in 10 years.

The Astros, who went 12-14 during the trip, are off today before beginning a nine-game home stand Tuesday night.

“It’s going to be nice to get home, although the trip wasn’t that bad,” Houston’s Ken Caminiti said. “The worst part was the different hotels, different restaurants and different air-conditioners. I’ve had a cold for a week that I can’t get rid of.”

The Astros traveled 9,186 miles because the Republican National Convention was held in the Astrodome. They visited every NL city except Pittsburgh, Montreal and New York, and won eight of their last 12 games.

“I think we played very well,” Astro Manager Art Howe said. “I think we got to know each other a little better with every game. It seems like the longer it went on, the more loosey-goosey everybody got.”

Jimmy Jones (7-5) pitched six strong innings and Doug Jones finished for his 28th save for the Astros, whose last three-game sweep in Philadelphia came in May, 1982.

Curt Schilling (11-8) gave up four hits, only one after the first inning. He struck out five in his seventh complete game.

John Kruk hit his ninth homer for the Phillies.

San Francisco 5, Pittsburgh 2--Bud Black gave up six hits in 8 1/3 innings at San Francisco to win for the first time since July 27.

Black (10-6), 0-3 with a 5.02 earned-run average in his last four starts, allowed three singles in seven innings before giving up Don Slaught’s second homer during the eighth and Andy Van Slyke’s 10th homer during the ninth.

Cory Snyder of the Giants hit his 12th homer.

Cincinnati 1, Montreal 0--Jose Rijo gave up five hits and struck out eight in seven innings as the Reds won at Montreal.

Rijo (10-9) allowed only one runner to reach second base as he won for only the second time in five starts. Rob Dibble finished for his 16th save.

The Reds scored in the second inning after Paul O’Neill reached base on a throwing error by first baseman Jerry Willard, took third on Bill Doran’s single and scored when a grounder by Darnell Coles handcuffed Willard at first.

St. Louis 8, Atlanta 3--Andres Galarraga hit his seventh homer and Bernard Gilkey hit a two-run single for the Cardinals at Atlanta as the Braves stranded 13 runners.

The Braves saw their division lead cut to six games over Cincinnati.

Omar Olivares (7-8) pitched only five innings but won for the first time since July 16.

Jeff Blauser of the Braves hit an inside-the-park home run in the seventh.

San Diego 4, New York 3--Andy Benes (10-11) gave up three hits in seven innings at San Diego to win his fifth consecutive decision against the Mets.

Randy Myers finished for his 27th save.

Bobby Bonilla chased Benes during the eighth with his 16th homer. Bonilla has homered in every game since coming off the disabled list Wednesday. He is the fifth Met to homer in four consecutive games, the first since Dave Kingman in 1981.

David Cone (13-7) gave up three runs and three hits in seven innings for the Mets, who have lost 14 of 16 games.