NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Foster’s Lone Slip-Up Costly Against Giants

Kevin Foster overpowered the San Francisco Giants for six innings Wednesday, but one lazy fastball to Barry Bonds turned a pitching gem into a defeat.

Bonds homered in the seventh inning to give the Giants a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs and Foster (2-2), who took a perfect game into the sixth and allowed only two hits in seven innings at San Francisco.

Foster had arrived in San Francisco late Tuesday night after his father’s funeral in Chicago.

“After what I’d been through the last couple of days, I was able to come here and relax,” Foster said. “Once the game started, I couldn’t let myself get distracted.”

Mark Portugal (2-1) allowed a run in the first on Sammy Sosa’s run-scoring double but then retired 20 consecutive Cubs and allowed only three hits in 7 2/3 innings. Rod Beck got the final four outs for his fifth save.

Foster retired the first 15 batters before a sixth-inning single by J.R. Phillips.

Robby Thompson drew a one-out walk in the seventh for the Giants, and Bonds followed with his third homer of the season, ending a 19-inning scoreless streak by the Giants.

“The pitch to Barry was over the middle,” Foster said, “and that’s what they pay him to do. I tried to get ahead of him right away, and I just got too much of the plate.”

Colorado 6, Atlanta 5--The Rockies scored six runs off Greg Maddux, doubling the total he had allowed this season, at Atlanta and beat the Braves for only the third time in 26 games.

Mike Kingery drove in three runs, including the tiebreaking run in the eighth, and Joe Girardi extended his hitting streak to 14 games for Colorado.

Maddux (2-1) lasted eight innings, giving up eight hits and one walk while striking out seven in the loss. Darren Holmes (3-0), who worked the final 2 1/3 innings and got out of a jam in the eighth, picked up the victory. Bruce Ruffin got his sixth save.

Cincinnati 6, Montreal 2--Reggie Sanders homered and Ron Gant drove in the go-ahead run to help the Reds win at Montreal.

Winner Jose Rijo (2-2) allowed a run and six hits in five innings. The Expos had at least one baserunner against Rijo in each inning he pitched. Jeff Fassero was the loser.

Houston 7, New York 2--Luis Gonzalez tied a career-high with four hits, including a two-run triple in a three-run first inning, as the Astros broke out of a home hitting slump with a victory over the Mets at Houston.

The Astros scored only 14 runs in their first seven home games this season, but broke out of that slump in a hurry against Jason Jacome (0-4) and finished with 14 hits.

Greg Swindell (2-1) improved his career record against the Mets to 4-0.

San Diego 2, St. Louis 1--Melvin Nieves broke his two-for-22 slump with a two-run homer and the Padres won their 12th consecutive home game against the Cardinals.

Andy Ashby (2-2) gave up a run in the first inning, but then held the Cardinals scoreless before leaving after six innings.

Danny Jackson (0-4) remained winless since signing as a free agent from Philadelphia.

Philadelphia 3, Florida 1--Mickey Morandini had a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the 13th inning, leading the Phillies at Miami.

It was Morandini’s second game-winning hit in as many nights.

Ricky Bottalico (2-0) notched his second victory in less than a week, pitching one inning of relief, and Heathcliff Slocumb pitched the bottom of the 13th for his major league-leading ninth save. Richie Lewis was the loser.