NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Larkin Delivers Again for the Reds

Barry Larkin continued his June surge Wednesday night with his second game-winning hit in two nights. His two-out single in the ninth inning against Rod Beck gave the Cincinnati Reds a 4-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants at Cincinnati, sending the Giants to their 11th loss in 13 games.

Larkin hit a solo homer Tuesday night in the eighth inning of a 2-1 victory.

“He’s the hottest hitter on their team right now,” Giant Manager Dusty Baker said. “That wasn’t a bad pitch.”

Larkin spent most of the first 10 weeks of the season trying to keep his average above .200. It’s climbing fast now that he has hit in 15 consecutive games, jumping from .233 to .279 since June 6.

New York 5, Atlanta 2--The Mets scored four runs in the eighth inning at Atlanta, helped by pitcher Greg Maddux’s throwing error.

Maddux appeared to be coasting to his 11th victory after retiring 16 batters in a row before Todd Hundley singled to open the eighth.

Ryan Thompson followed with a single that sent Hundley to third and pinch-hitter Shawn Hare singled off the center-field fence, scoring Hundley and sending Thompson to second.

Fernando Vina then sacrificed, but raced all the way to third as Thompson and Hare scored when Maddux (10-3) threw wide of first into the right-field bullpen area. Jose Vizcaino then drove in Vina with a sacrifice fly.

The rally enabled Pete Smith (4-7) to beat his former teammates in his first appearance against the Braves. He went seven innings, giving up four hits, walking three and striking out two. Mauro Gozzo pitched the eighth and John Franco pitched the ninth for his 17th save.

It was Franco’s 253rd save, most by a left-hander. He was previously tied with Dave Righetti, now with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Pittsburgh 5, Philadelphia 4--Kevin Stocker was tagged for the final out at Pittsburgh as he tried to dive over catcher Don Slaught for the second time.

The Phillies trailed when Stocker drew a leadoff walk in the ninth and took third on pitcher Alejandro Pena’s errant pickoff throw. With one out, pinch-hitter Pete Incaviglia walked.

Billy Hatcher followed with a fly ball caught by right fielder Orlando Merced, whose throw home arrived as Stocker neared the plate. Stocker dived over Slaught but also missed the plate.

Slaught, meanwhile, held the ball aloft, waiting for umpire Jerry Meals to make a call. Stocker seemed to realize he had not been tagged, and tried to dive back over Slaught. Slaught, however, made the tag an instant before Stocker touched the plate.

Colorado 14, Houston 5--The Rockies’ Dante Bichette hit two homers and tied club records with five runs batted in and four hits at Denver.

Chris Jones also had four hits and Vinny Castilla three as the Rockies hammered out 20, tying a team record. The Rockies also matched a season high for hits in an inning with five--collecting that total in both the first and fourth innings.

Montreal 6, St. Louis 4--Larry Walker had a three-run homer and Moises Alou a solo shot at St. Louis as Bob Tewksbury’s career-worst slump continued at St. Louis.

Tewksbury (8-7) has been stuck on eight victories for six starts--all losses--during which he has a 10.13 earned-run average.