NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Padres Set Team Record With 12th Loss in Row

In four of their first six seasons, the San Diego Padres lost 100 or more games, but they never had a streak as bad as this one.

Two more errors, giving them 41 in 41 games, helped the Astros beat the Padres, 2-1, Friday night at Houston, a San Diego-record 12th consecutive defeat.

The 1969 expansion team had the previous club record of 11, en route to losing 110 games.

The team, last in fielding and batting, has the worst record in the majors (10-31) and is already 12 1/2 games out of first place in the National League West.

The Padres were at the mercy of Greg Swindell (4-1) until Phil Plantier hit his 12th home run with one out in the ninth inning. Swindell gave up five other hits in 8 1/3 innings, before John Hudek came in to get the last two outs.

In the first inning, with two out, center fielder Derek Bell dropped a fly ball for a three-base error that enabled James Mouton to score an unearned run. In the third, an error on a wild throw by catcher Brad Ausmus put Steve Finley in position to score on a two-out double by Craig Biggio.

Although winless in nine starts, Andy Ashby (0-4) has a 2.79 earned-run average.

Atlanta 7, Colorado 1--It is a new season, but the Rockies still can’t beat the Braves.

After losing all 13 games to the Braves last year, the Rockies lost the first one this season.

Mark Lemke drove in two runs and Steve Avery (5-1) pitched eight strong innings for the Braves at Denver.

Avery worked out of jams in the fourth and seventh. He gave up six hits, struck out six and walked two.

Chicago 2, San Francisco 1--The Cubs are beginning to make themselves at home at Wrigley Field.

After losing their first 12 games at home, the Cubs have now won sixth of their last eight.

With two out in the 11th inning, Rey Sanchez singled to right against Dave Burba (0-3) and scored when Rick Wilkins doubled into the left field corner.

The Giants lost right fielder Willie McGee, who suffered a pulled hamstring running out a grounder in the eighth inning.

Montreal 5, Pittsburgh 3--Larry Walker’s two-run triple in the eighth inning at Pittsburgh handed the Pirates their seventh loss in eight games.

Ken Hill (7-2) trailed, 3-2, when Walker came through. Hill reached seven victories earlier than any pitcher in the 25-year history of the Expos.

“Trust me, it’s a good feeling,” Hill said. “I’m just trying to get the job done.”

The Pirates have stranded 139 runners in the last 16 games.

St. Louis 3, Florida 2--Rookie Bryan Evergard, a last-second replacement for injured Rheal Cormier, pitched five scoreless innings at Miami for his first major league victory.

Cormier suffered a strained back muscle while warming up and left without throwing a pitch.

Brian Jordan, who had gone one for 21, singled in the first Cardinal run in the fourth and Mark Whitten and Tom Pagnozzi drove in runs in the sixth.

Philadelphia 5, New York 3--Mike Williams (2-0) gave up four hits in 6 2/3 innings at Philadelphia and doubled in two runs.

Williams, who has won both his starts, fueled a four-run fourth-inning rally with his bases-loaded double.

Williams had one span when he retired 14 Mets in a row.