NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : B-e-c-k No Longer the Way to Spell Relief

After going more than a year without blowing a save, Rod Beck is learning how the other half lives.

“It just wasn’t my night,” he said Tuesday after walking three batters in 1 1/3 innings in San Francisco’s 6-5 loss at Philadelphia.

It hasn’t been his week. Beck blew his third save in a row after being successful 41 consecutive times. He’s stuck on 99 saves for his career.

“I got a ton of balls up before I felt comfortable,” Beck said.

By that time, the Phillies, who had trailed, 5-3, had pulled within a run on Dave Gallagher’s RBI single in the eighth inning off Mark Dewey and tied the score on Darren Daulton’s RBI single in the ninth off Beck. Kevin Stocker won it with a sacrifice fly.

The victory went to Gene Harris (2-0), the last of four relievers who held the Giants hitless in three innings.

Matt Williams hit his league-leading 11th home run for San Francisco.

Chicago 7, Colorado 6--Both starting pitchers hit home runs at Denver. Kevin Foster also struck out nine in 6 2/3 innings in leading the Cubs to victory.

One of the three homers hit off Foster (3-2) was by his counterpart Marvin Freeman (0-2). Others were hit off Foster by Andres Galarraga and Larry Walker.

Atlanta 7, St. Louis 1--Greg Maddux, knocked around in his previous start, began with five perfect innings and finished with a five-hitter for the Braves in a victory at St. Louis.

Cardinal pitchers struck out 15 batters, but David Justice and Mike Kelly homered for Atlanta, which opened an eight-game trip with its fifth consecutive victory.

In his previous start, Maddux (3-1) allowed six runs in a 6-5 loss to Colorado. Against St. Louis, he struck out eight and faced only three batters over the minimum in recording his first complete game this season, the 61st of his career.

Danny Jackson (0-5) allowed five runs and four hits in 5 1/3 innings in defeat.

Florida 6, Pittsburgh 1--Chris Hammond pitched two-hit ball over eight innings and Tommy Gregg homered as the Marlins stopped a six-game losing streak by winning in Pittsburgh, where the Pirates’ 1-8 start is their worst since moving into Three Rivers Stadium in 1970.

Gregg was three for three with three RBIs to support Hammond (1-0), who broke his left leg last August and was activated only 10 days ago.

Cincinnati 10, Houston 5--Darryl Kile (1-3) walked seven batters, hit two more and threw two wild pitches to make it easier for the Reds, who won at home.

Kile let in one run with a wild pitch, walked home another and left with the bases loaded in the fourth inning after walking two and hitting Reggie Sanders.

Pedro Martinez relieved and walked Eddie Taubensee, forcing in a run that made it 5-3. Bret Boone then cleared the bases with a double, sending the Reds to their 12th victory in 15 games.

Xavier Hernandez (3-0) got the victory with two innings in relief.

Montreal 6, San Diego 4--Mike Lansing hit his first grand slam and Jeff Fassero became the National League’s first five-game winner as the Expos won at home, beating San Diego for the 14th time in a row.

Fassero (5-1) worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning and allowed two runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out four.

Mel Rojas got three outs for his eighth save.