NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Rockies Turn Tables, Beat Phillies

Maybe it was the change in altitude.

Last week, the Philadelphia Phillies swept a three-game series from Colorado at Mile High Stadium, outscoring the Rockies, 39-10.

Back at sea level in Philadelphia, runs were rare Friday night as the Rockies beat Philadelphia, 2-1, in a game that was scoreless until the ninth inning. Colorado, the team with the worst record in baseball, won for only the sixth time in 29 games, beating the team with the best record.

Andres Galarraga and Charlie Hayes hit run-scoring doubles, ending the scoreless tie and making a winner of Willie Blair, who had been supported by a total of two runs in his last three starts.

Terry Mulholland (6-5) lost despite striking out a career-high 14 and walking none.

Blair (2-2), trying to pitch the first shutout in Rockies history, left after Mickey Morandini doubled home a run with one out in the ninth.

Blair said he didn’t even think about pitching the Rockies’ first shutout.

“Actually I didn’t realize it hadn’t been done,” he said. “It would have been a great accomplishment for me. But I’m satisfied with the win.”

Pittsburgh 3, San Francisco 2--Andy Van Slyke got two hits and drove in the go-ahead run, and the Pirates’ pitching silenced the Giants’ bats for the second night in a row to lead the Pirates at San Francisco.

Pirates have won four of their last five.

With the score tied, 2-2, in the fifth, Van Slyke drove in the tie-breaking run with a sacrifice fly that scored Al Martin, who led off with a double.

After three Pirates pitchers combined on a two-hitter Thursday night, Steve Cooke (4-2) gave up seven hits in 8 2/3 innings.

Houston 7, New York 2--Pete Harnisch won again at the Astrodome, pitching a six-hitter to lift the Astros.

Harnisch (6-2) is 5-0 at home this season. He struck out seven and walked one in his first complete game of the season.

Frank Tanana (3-4) pitched six innings and gave up four runs on six hits.

Craig Biggio’s three-run homer capped a four-run rally in the fifth for the Astros.

The Astros increased their lead to 7-2 in the eighth against reliever Paul Gibson.

Florida 6, San Diego 2--Charlie Hough held the Padres to five hits in seven innings, matched his season high with nine strikeouts and had his first hit in exactly 13 years to lead the Marlins at San Diego.

Hough (3-6) won for the first time since beating the Padres, 2-1, on April 10. He had lost his previous six decisions.

Bruce Hurst (0-1) had a setback in his return from shoulder surgery, pitching only 1 1/3 innings before leaving with discomfort in the joint.

Montreal 3, Chicago 1--Jeff Shaw stopped Chicago for 6 1/3 innings and Sean Berry hit a two-run double, leading the Expos at Montreal.

Shaw (1-2), in his fifth start and 14th appearance of the season, gave up one run on six hits. He struck out two and walked two.

John Wetteland pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings for his ninth save in 12 opportunities.