NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Braves Erase Six-Run Deficit to Win

Sid Bream’s pinch-hit grand slam highlighted a six-run eighth inning at Denver as the Atlanta Braves rallied to beat the Colorado Rockies, 8-7, Saturday. It was the Braves’ third victory in a row.

Jerald Clark and Charlie Hayes hit home runs to give the Rockies and Bruce Ruffin a 6-0 lead through seven innings.

But Colorado’s shoddy defense and shaky bullpen combined to blow the lead in the eighth, when the Braves scored six runs on only three hits. Three errors helped cut the deficit to 6-2, and then Bream homered against reliever Willie Blair.

“You can’t ever give up in this ballpark,” Brave Manager Bobby Cox said of hitter-friendly Mile High Stadium. “There’s just nothing safe here--absolutely nothing.”

Atlanta won the game with two runs in the ninth against Scott Fredrickson (0-1). Kent Mercker (2-0), who pitched the eighth, got the win and Mike Stanton earned his 11th save.

Florida 4, New York 2--Jack Armstrong pitched six strong innings and had two hits at New York to help the Marlins to their first victory against the Mets.

Armstrong (3-3) gave up four hits and two runs, including a solo homer by Eddie Murray.

Trevor Hoffman pitched two hitless innings and Bryan Harvey finished for his ninth save in 10 opportunities.

Pete Schourek (1-3), starting in place of injured Sid Fernandez, gave up four runs and seven hits in five innings.

Philadelphia 2, St. Louis 1--Ricky Jordan’s pinch single with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning at Philadelphia gave the Phillies a victory and improved their record to a major league best 21-7.

Terry Mulholland (4-3) pitched a complete game, giving up 10 hits and one run, striking out six and walking one. Jordan hit his game-winner against Mike Perez (2-2) with one out.

Pittsburgh 10, Montreal 9--Tom Foley’s run-scoring single in the 10th inning gave the Pirates the victory at Pittsburgh.

Andy Van Slyke forced extra innings when he hit John Wetteland’s 2-and-0 pitch over the right field wall with two outs in the ninth.

Foley’s hit came off Kent Bottenfield (1-3), driving in Orlando Merced.

Stan Belinda (1-0) was the winner with two perfect innings.

Chicago 8, San Diego 6--Two passed balls by Dan Walters on consecutive pitches resulted in two runs in the seventh inning as the Cubs rallied to win at Chicago.

Trailing 5-4, the Cubs loaded the bases with none out against Pat Gomez (0-2). After Mark Grace’s sacrifice fly tied the score, Walters committed his two passed balls--scoring Wilson and Vizcaino.

Chuck McElroy (2-1) pitched one inning for the victory.

Houston 12, Cincinnati 1--Jeff Bagwell hit a three-run homer, his sixth homer in his last seven home games, to highlight a 15-hit attack as the Astros routed the Reds at Houston and dropped John Smiley to 0-5.

Darryl Kile (2-0) was the winner, going six innings and giving up one run on four hits.

Houston scored five in the first. Craig Biggio started the rally with a double, and after a walk to Luis Gonzalez, Bagwell hit his seventh homer. Chris James capped the inning with a two-run homer.