NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Pirates Extend Atlanta’s Streak to 4

The Atlanta Braves lost their fourth consecutive game when Kevin Young singled home the tiebreaking run in the ninth inning and sent the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-1 victory Saturday night at Atlanta.

“There’s probably not a manager in the league who wouldn’t mind changing places with (Brave Manager) Bobby Cox,” Pittsburgh Manager Jim Leyland said. “I think they’re in pretty good shape. This is the best team in the National League. But as good as they are, they’re human, and they’re going to lose a couple.”

Atlanta, 10-0 on the road, fell to 3-5 at home.

The Braves, who began the season with a 13-1 record, had not lost four in a row since last April 25-29, when they lost five consecutive games.

“I think it’s gotten to the point where we--I don’t mean the players--but the media, are over-analyzing each loss, breaking them down,” said Atlanta shortstop Jeff Blauser.

“It’s simple. They won and we lost. They took advantage of opportunities and we didn’t.”

Young, batting .095 (two for 21) entering the game, had two hits. His single in the ninth followed singles by pinch-hitter Dave Clark and Don Slaught against Greg McMichael.

Orlando Merced and Carlos Garcia followed with run-scoring singles. Andy Van Slyke also singled home a run, and another run scored on left fielder Mike Kelly’s error.

“It’s definitely a confidence-booster,” said Young, who raised his average to .160. “Obviously, I’ve been having problems, but this type of game is a pick-me-up.”

Colorado 8, Chicago 2--Greg Harris, bidding for the first complete-game shutout in team history, blanked the Cubs until Mark Grace led off the ninth with a single and Derrick May followed with a home run at Mile High Stadium.

Harris (1-1) struck out eight and walked three in Colorado’s first complete game of the season. He won for only the second time in 11 decisions since San Diego traded him to the Rockies in the middle of last year.

Walt Weiss had three hits, including a solo homer, for the Rockies. Eric Young hit an inside-the-park homer in the eighth inning and Dante Bichette followed with his seventh homer.

San Francisco 10, New York 1--Matt Williams, Royce Clayton and Mike Benjamin each hit two-run homers at Candlestick Park as the Giants broke out of a hitting slump.

The Giants, who were batting .198 in their last five games, had 14 hits against three New York pitchers.

Darren Lewis led off the first with his first homer of the season, and the Giants made it 2-0 in the second on Lewis’ run-scoring single.

After Willie McGee led off the third with a single, Williams hit his seventh home run of the season. Benjamin hit an inside-the-park homer in the eighth.

San Diego 8, Philadelphia 2--Tony Gwynn had five hits in five at-bats with a home run and tied a club record by scoring four runs at San Diego.

Gwynn, who has had five or more hits in a game eight times, also drove in three runs as the Padres won their second straight game for the first time this season.

Houston 15, St. Louis 5--Rookie James Mouton hit a grand slam, his first major league homer, to highlight a six-run eighth inning at St. Louis.

Kevin Bass had five hits, including a homer, and drove in three runs and Steve Finley had four hits and also drove in three runs for the Astros.

Andy Stankiewicz scored three times for the Astros, who had a season-high 18 hits.

Florida 3, Cincinnati 2--Pinch-runner Chuck Carr beat shortstop Barry Larkin’s throw home on a grounder in the ninth inning to give the Marlins the victory at Cincinnati.

Orestes Destrade led off with a single and was replaced by Carr, who led the league with 58 stolen bases last season. Carr took second on a passed ball and went to third on a sacrifice by Benito Santiago. Rick Renteria followed with a grounder to Larkin, but Carr scored ahead of the throw.