NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Benes’ 4th in a Row Gives Padres Victory

Andy Benes took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and held Montreal to four hits in 8 1/3 innings as the Padres defeated the Expos, 4-1, Tuesday night at San Diego.

The victory was San Diego’s seventh in 10 games.

Benes (4-1) has won his last four decisions. Moises Alou led off the seventh with a double to the right-field corner. The Expos got two more hits in the eighth, and Alou led off the ninth with a solo homer.

“I’m thrilled I’ve been able to get people out the last four games,” Benes said. “I’ve pitched really well and have gotten deep into the games. But at the same time, I’m not going to sit back and feel real good about myself.

“Tomorrow, I’ve got to get that fire back in my eyes and think about the next start. You can’t sit back and rest.”

San Diego got all the runs it needed in the first inning when Gary Sheffield hit a two-run home run, his fifth of the season.

Benes helped chase Montreal starter Kent Bottenfield (1-2) in the fourth inning with a two-out double that made it 4-0. The inning began with Derek Bell hitting a single and scoring on Jeff Gardner’s triple, the Padres’ first of the season.

San Francisco 6, Philadelphia 3--John Burkett became the major leagues’ first five-game winner as the Giants ended the Phillies’ four-game winning streak with the victory at Philadelphia.

Matt Williams homered, Will Clark doubled home two runs and Barry Bonds tripled in two more as the Giants opened a 6-0 lead.

Burkett struck out six and didn’t walk a batter in 7 1/3 innings. Rod Beck struck out the side in the ninth inning for his seventh save.

Colorado 11, Chicago 2--Andres Galarraga hit a two-run home run to highlight a six-run fourth inning and Butch Henry pitched a complete game at Denver.

Galarraga’s 464-foot shot to right-center field came on the first pitch from reliever Jose Bautista.

Houston 9, St. Louis 2--Craig Biggio went three for four and tripled in two runs, his first runs batted in of the season, to lead the Astros at Houston.

Biggio singled to start a four-run first inning and hit a two-run triple in the fourth for a 6-1 lead.

Ken Caminiti and Chris James hit home runs for Houston, and a throwing error by Cardinal shortstop Ozzie Smith allowed two other runs to score.

Pittsburgh 6, Atlanta 2--Tim Wakefield continued his domination of the Braves, surviving 10 walks and pitching into the 11th inning at Atlanta.

The winning run was scored in the top of the 11th when Braves’ relief ace Mike Stanton made a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt by Wakefield, allowing Carlos Garcia to score from second.

Wakefield scored on Jeff King’s two-out single to left field, and Orlando Merced followed with a two-run double off Stanton (0-1).

Florida 4, Cincinnati 3--Reds’ left fielder Cecil Espy misplayed Dave Magadan’s liner into a three-base error, allowing the winning run at Cincinnati.

Orestes Destrade singled with two outs in the eighth inning off Bobby Ayala, and Magadan followed with a sinking line drive to Espy’s right. He charged the ball but missed a basket catch.