Stocker’s Hit Helps Phillies

Kevin Stocker saw his fortunes go full circle Thursday.

The rookie shortstop for the Philadelphia Phillies made two errors, including one in the first inning that led to a run. But he also hit a tie-breaking single in the seventh inning to help beat the Montreal Expos, 7-4, as the Phillies completed a three-game sweep at Philadelphia.

Montreal reliever Tim Scott (4-2) retired the first batter in the seventh and then gave up a single to Wes Chamberlain.

Chamberlain advanced to second on a passed ball and scored the go-ahead run on Stocker’s two-out single to center.

The first-place Phillies added two runs in the eighth when Mariano Duncan scored on a wild pitch and Dave Hollins hit his 13th homer.

Houston 5, San Diego 3--Luis Gonzalez tripled and scored the tie-breaking run on Andujar Cedeno’s sacrifice fly in the sixth inning as the Astros rallied at San Diego.

Starter Greg Swindell (8-9) gave up 10 hits in five innings, but held the Padres to three runs. Todd Jones worked one inning, Xavier Hernandez two and Doug Jones finished for his 23rd save, including all three Astro victories in the four-game series.

Gonzalez’s triple came on a looping fly ball off Trevor Hoffman (3-5). Left fielder Phil Plantier tried to make a diving catch near the line, but he missed the ball and it rolled into the San Diego bullpen. One out later, Cedeno hit the fly ball.

Chicago 5, Florida 1--Mike Harkey pitched his first complete game since 1990 and Dwight Smith hit a pair of solo homers to help the Cubs snap the Marlins’ season-high four-game winning streak at Miami.

Harkey (8-6), who had a 10.61 earned-run average in his past four starts, allowed a base runner in each of the first six innings. But the Marlins had two runners caught stealing and lost another when Jeff Conine hit into a double play.

Pittsburgh 5, St. Louis 4--Jeff King’s single over a drawn-in outfield in the 11th inning scored Carlos Garcia, who had tripled, with the winning run at Pittsburgh.

The Pirates won in their final at-bat for the second consecutive night after losing seven of their first eight games to the Cardinals this season.

Todd Burns (0-4) lost in relief for the second night in a row.

Atlanta 8, New York 4--Ron Gant and David Justice each hit two-run homers and John Smoltz yielded three hits in 7 2/3 innings as Atlanta completed a three-game sweep of the Mets at New York.

Losing pitcher Dwight Gooden (11-12), 3-4 in his last seven starts, gave up six runs and seven hits in five innings.