NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Sanderson Pitches Giants Past Marlins

Want to know how well things are going for the Giants this season?

Scott Sanderson won a game for them.

Sanderson stopped his 10-game losing streak with his first victory for the Giants as they defeated the Florida Marlins, 7-4, Saturday at San Francisco.

“I felt a lot more comfortable today, for sure,” said Sanderson, picked up off waivers from the Angels on Aug. 3. “I think with each time out I’ll get more comfortable.

“All you have to do here is give this team a chance to win. They’re going to put some runs on the board.”

Against the Marlins Saturday, the Giants scored three times in the sixth to open a 6-2 lead.

Sanderson (1-1) allowed one earned run on five hits in six innings. He walked none, struck out three and hit a batter in recording his first victory since May 27.

He lost his last nine decisions with the Angels, starting the longest losing streak of his 17-year career. The slide continued in his first start for the Giants.

Robby Thompson provided the bulk of the Giants’ offense. He homered, doubled and drove in three runs for San Francisco, which maintained its 7 1/2-game lead over Atlanta in the National League West.

Atlanta 6, Chicago 3--Fred McGriff and rookie Javier Lopez hit two-run homers in the eighth inning, rallying the Braves at Chicago.

The Braves trailed, 3-2, entering the eighth.

Jeff Blauser walked to open the inning against Jose Bautista, and Ron Gant flied out.

Dan Plesac (0-1) relieved, and McGriff hit his 28th home run of the season and 10th since joining the Braves. An out later, Terry Pendleton beat out an infield hit, and Lopez greeted reliever Shawn Boskie with his first major-league home run.

Houston 3, Philadelphia 2--Luis Gonzalez’s RBI single in the 10th inning scored Steve Finley from second to lift the Astros at Houston.

Finley led off the 10th with an infield single off Larry Andersen (3-2). One out later, he stole second. After an intentional walk to Ken Caminiti and a foul out by pinch-hitter Chris Donnels, Gonzalez grounded a single just past the reach of first baseman John Kruk.

The loss was the Phillies’ first in Houston in five games and only their third loss in their last eleven games.

Montreal 6, Cincinnati 3--Larry Walker hit a grand slam on the Expos’ first swing of the game and Marquis Grissom added a solo homer at Cincinnati.

John Roper (2-3) opened the game by walking Grissom, Randy Ready and John VanderWal on 13 pitches. Walker took a strike and two balls before lining his 16th homer and first career grand slam over the center-field wall.

Roper also gave up a solo homer in the second to Grissom, his 13th.

Butch Henry (3-8) won his first start for the Expos by giving up three hits and two earned runs over five innings. Tim Scott allowed one hit over two innings, and John Wetteland pitched two perfect innings for his 27th save in 33 chances.

Colorado 4-8, New York 3-6--Greg Harris earned his first victory for the Rockies in the first game and Darren Holmes saved both games as the Rockies swept a doubleheader at Denver.

Harris (10-12) pitched seven innings, allowing four hits and four walks. Holmes worked the final 1 1/3 innings.

The Rockies broke the tie in the seventh when Vinny Castilla singled off reliever Jeff Innis (1-3), advanced on a sacrifice and scored on Freddie Benavides’ hit.

In the second game, Steve Reed (7-4) pitched 2 1/3 innings and allowed one hit. He entered in the fourth inning when starter Bruce Hurst left with tightness in his left shoulder. Curt Leskanic and Marcus Moore each pitched 1 2/3 innings, and Holmes got the final four outs for his second save of the night and 17th of the season.

The Rockies had a four-run rally in the third inning.