NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Angry Benes Pitches One-Hitter for Padres

Andy Benes pitched the first one-hitter of his career and matched his career high with 13 strikeouts in beating the New York Mets, 7-0, Sunday at San Diego.

But the Padre right-hander was angry.

It had nothing to do with Rico Brogna, who stopped Benes’ bid for the first no-hitter in the Padres’ 26-year history.

Rather, Benes was angry at Padre General Manager Randy Smith, who was quoted in Baseball America as saying that Benes might end up as the Padres’ No. 3 starter in the future because of the way Andy Ashby and Joe Hamilton have been pitching.

“I was very motivated going into the game,” Benes said. “I guess my motivation is to be the best No. 3 starter wherever I’m playing a year and a half from now and show people that I’m in shape, I can finish a game, I have good stuff and can get people out.

“We’ll see what happens a year and a half from now. We’ll see if anybody wants a 240-inning-a-year third starter.”

Benes (6-9), besides winning his fourth consecutive decision, also hit a three-run double.

He held the Mets hitless through seven innings before Brogna doubled to center leading off the eighth.

It was the 17th one-hitter in Padre history.

Atlanta 12, Florida 6--Fred McGriff, chosen as an All-Star reserve, hit his 22nd home run of the season and 250th of his career to help the Braves win at Miami.

McGriff had five runs batted in, and Dave Justice, picked as an All-Star starter, had two.

McGriff was 10 for 18 in the four-game series with three homers and nine RBIs.

Tom Glavine (9-7) gave up six runs in 6 2/3 innings to earn his first victory over the Marlins in three decisions.

San Francisco 8, Montreal 5--A foul popup that wasn’t caught gave Mark Carreon the break he and the Giants needed at San Francisco.

With two men on in the fifth and the Giants trailing, Expo first baseman Larry Walker lost the ball in the sun, keeping Carreon alive at the plate with a 1-1 count. He sent the next pitch from Gil Heredia into the left field bleachers for a three-run homer.

Houston 12, Chicago 6--Craig Biggio had four hits, including a homer and two doubles, and Greg Swindell broke a five-game losing streak as the Astros beat the Cubs at Houston for their fourth victory in five games.

Ken Caminiti hit two homers and rookie James Mouton also homered for Houston.

Caminiti’s second homer was an inside-the-park, three-run shot down the right field line in the eighth that caromed past right fielder Sammy Sosa. It gave the Astros a 12-3 lead.

Colorado 5, St. Louis 2--Mike Kingery had two doubles, drove in a run and made a home-run saving catch for the Rockies at St. Louis.

Kingery has been filling in for Ellis Burks since Burks sprained his wrist on May 17. Burks was hitting .354 at the time, but Kingery is batting .346 and has 13 doubles and 10 RBIs in his last 16 games.

Cincinnati 4, Pittsburgh 3--Tony Fernandez, moved from third to shortstop so Barry Larkin could take the day off, hit a two-run homer and a double to lead the Reds at Pittsburgh and finish off a .611 weekend (11 for 18) to raise his season average against the Pirates to .500.

Jeff Branson, starting at second in place of Bret Boone, who also got the day off, hit a two-run homer in the fourth to give the Reds a 3-2 lead.