NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Bagwell Gets Well, Astros Feeling Even Better

Jeff Bagwell returned from a three-game absence because of flu and drove in two runs Wednesday night as the Houston Astros defeated St. Louis, 7-6, for their fifth straight victory.

Bagwell took over the major-league lead in runs batted in 79, and the Astros moved 12 games over .500 (48-36) for the first time since 1989. Craig Biggio had three hits and Houston starter Doug Drabek drove in two runs with a triple.

St. Louis, which has lost a season-high five in a row, fell below the .500 mark (40-41) for only the second time this season.

Florida 4, Cincinnati 3--Pinch-hitter Greg Colbrunn hit a two-out, bases-loaded single in the 10th inning at Miami as the Marlins snapped their four-game losing streak.

The Reds, who blew a 3-0 lead in the eighth, lost for the first time in six games.

Chuck Carr reached with one out in the 10th when Barry Larkin mishandled his soft liner. Carr took second on a passed ball, and Hector Carrasco (4-5) walked Jerry Browne and Gary Sheffield to load the bases.

After Jeff Conine popped out, Chuck McElroy replaced Carrasco and gave up Colbrunn’s sharp single up the middle.

Pittsburgh 3-2, Atlanta 1-4--Steve Avery got his first victory in almost seven weeks and Ryan Klesko drove in two runs as the Braves won the second game of a double-header to split with the Pirates, who won the opener with two runs in the bottom of the eighth.

Zane Smith earned his ninth victory, his most since 1991, and Dave Clark had a tie-breaking sacrifice fly.

The Pirates’ loss in the second game ended their five-game winning streak against Atlanta this season.

Avery (6-2) had seven no-decisions and one loss since May 20. He held the Pirates to six hits and struck out eight in eight-plus innings. Greg McMichael got the last three outs for his 17th save.

San Diego 5, Philadelphia 2--Bill Krueger, backed by Phil Clark’s two-run home run at San Diego, provided the Padres with a rare win by a left-handed starter. Krueger entered the game with a 22.50 ERA, courtesy of his nightmarish first start with San Diego on Friday, when he gave up six hits and five runs in two innings of a 10-7 loss to New York.

Krueger (1-1) became the first Padres left-handed starter to win since Jim Deshaies on Sept. 10, 1992, at Los Angeles.

Colorado 7, Chicago 1--Andres Galarraga hit a three-run homer in a five-run ninth off All-Star reliever Randy Myers at Chicago.

The Cubs missed several scoring opportunities and stranded 12 runners. They collected 10 hits, but scored just once on Glenallen Hill’s leadoff homer in the sixth.

New York 4, San Francisco 1--Bobby Jones threw 7 1/3 innings without giving up a run as the Mets swept a three-game series with the Giants at Candlestick Park.

Jones (9-7) allowed four hits and did not walk a batter. The Mets limited the Giants to 13 hits and four runs in the three-game series. Todd Benzinger had two of the Giants’ five hits.