NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Fregosi in Hospital; Giants Win Again

Philadelphia Phillie Manager Jim Fregosi, who has been bothered by a sore back the past few days, was admitted to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital on Wednesday for treatment after his team’s 9-2 loss to San Francisco in Philadelphia.

Team spokesman Larry Shenk said Fregosi was sent to the hospital for “rest and medication.”

The victory puts the Giants, winners of 10 of their last 11, within 3 1/2 games of the Dodgers in the NL West.

The Giants’ Mike Benjamin drove in a career-high four runs. Benjamin had only five RBIs before Wednesday.

His doubles in the second and third innings helped the Giants give Mark Portugal (9-6) a 5-0 lead.

Matt Williams hit a solo home run in the ninth, his 35th of the season. Barry Bonds hit a solo homer in the seventh, his 29th overall and sixth in seven games. Bonds is hitting .451 (14 for 31) with 11 RBIs during the first seven games of the trip.

Darryl Strawberry did not play for San Francisco, resting his sore hamstring.

Houston 2, St. Louis 0--After 15-12 victory and a 10-0 loss earlier this week, the Astros won a relatively normal game at Houston.

Greg Swindell and John Hudek combined on a five-hitter, and Chris Donnels hit a go-ahead double in the sixth inning.

Bob Tewksbury (10-9), who has lost eight of his last 10 decisions, struck out eight in 6 2/3 innings. He gave up eight hits and both runs.

Chicago 9, Colorado 8--Mark Grace beat the Rockies with his third double and fourth hit of the game, driving in two runs in the eighth inning in Denver.

With the score tied, 7-7, in the eighth, pinch-hitter Tuffy Rhodes singled with one out against Steve Reed and moved to second on a walk to Mike Maksudian. Grace followed with a double to right to give the Cubs a 9-7 lead.

Randy Veres (1-0) pitched two innings before Jose Bautista came on in the ninth. Bautista got two outs, but Colorado put runners on first and third before Dan Plesac got the final out for his first save.

Chicago pounded starter Kevin Ritz for five runs and eight hits in 1 1/3 innings.

Montreal 5, San Diego 2--The Expos completed a season sweep of the Padres when Butch Henry tossed 7 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on six hits.

It was the Expos’ 12th consecutive victory over the Padres at Olympic Stadium.

Henry struck out two and walked one, that intentional.

Moises Alou’s bases-loaded single against Andy Benes (6-11) in the fifth inning broke a 2-2 tie.

Wil Cordero’s two-run homer, his 14th, made it 5-2 in the sixth.

Florida 8, Cincinnati 7--Gary Sheffield, out of the starting lineup to rest, hit the first pinch-hit home run in Marlin history, a two-run shot in the eighth inning, and knocked in the winning run in the ninth in Cincinnati.

Sheffield’s homer, a franchise-record 21st, put the Marlins ahead, 7-6, in the eighth.

Bob Natal opened the eighth with a single against Jeff Brantley (5-5) and Sheffield hit his seventh homer this season against the Reds.

Hector Carrasco gave up Sheffield’s run-scoring grounder in the ninth.

Pittsburgh 5, Atlanta 4--Tom Foley singled in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, and Pirate starter Denny Neagle drove in three runs as Pittsburgh continued to frustrate the Braves.

Rookie Midre Cummings had his third multiple-hit game in five starts since being called up from the minors. He drove in one run and set up another as the Pirates finished 9-3 against Atlanta.