NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Padres Make Wagner A Very Imperfect 10

Paul Wagner became the first 10-game loser in the major leagues when Andy Ashby tossed a four-hitter for his first career shutout as the San Diego Padres defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 2-0, Sunday at Pittsburgh to finish off a three-game sweep.

Wagner (1-10) was the only Pirate starter in the series to last past the third inning, but still became the first pitcher in the team’s 109-season history to start a season 1-10. At his current pace, Wagner would finish the season 3-31.

Wagner pitched better Sunday than his record would indicate, giving up one earned run over six innings on Eddie Williams’ run-scoring single in the sixth. Left fielder Dave Clark’s two-base error in the first allowed San Diego’s first run to score.

Ashby (3-4) again didn’t get much offensive assistance--the Padres have scored only six runs in his last four starts--but he allowed only one runner as far as third base for his first shutout in 72 starts.

The Pirates are 1-5 on their nine-game homestand and are a season-low 13 games worse than .500 (17-30).

“Wagner kept us in the game and gave us a chance to win, and we needed it with the way our bullpen was,” Manager Jim Leyland said. “But my job as a manager is to pull the right strings for us to win, and I’m not doing that.”

Cincinnati 10, Montreal 7--The Reds overcame a blown lead for the second consecutive game at Cincinnati, riding a two-run homer and a run-scoring single by Mark Lewis to the victory.

The Reds knocked out rookie sensation Carlos Perez in the second inning, then had to come from behind after wasting a 5-1 lead. Gabe White (1-1) gave up Eric Anthony’s single and Lewis’ second homer in the sixth inning, putting Cincinnati back ahead, 7-6.

Lewis added a run-scoring single in the seventh, his fourth hit of the game, and Damon Berryhill followed with a homer off Tim Scott. Lewis is 13 for 16 in his last six games.

The Reds built a 5-1 lead in 1 2/3 innings off Perez, who angered them with his fist-pumping celebrations of strikeouts when he beat them May 16. Reggie Sanders hit a rare upper-deck homer and Cincinnati avoided the strikeout, leaving Perez nothing to celebrate.

San Francisco 6, St. Louis 1--Mark Portugal pitched a five-hitter and Royce Clayton had three doubles at St. Louis.

Portugal (5-1), now 6-0 lifetime against the Cardinals, pitched his first complete game since April 17 and the third of his career. He struck out four and walked two.

Mike Morgan (2-2), making his first start for the Cardinals since being acquired for Todd Zeile on Friday, gave up four runs on six hits with two strikeouts and no walks in his five innings.

Atlanta 9, Colorado 4--Kent Mercker rebounded from his worst start of the season, giving up four hits in eight innings as the Braves completed a three-game sweep of the Rockies at Denver.

The Rockies, who dropped to 3-27 lifetime against Atlanta, lost four games in a homestand for the first time this season, leaving them only half a game ahead of San Francisco in the West.

The Braves scored four runs in the first inning against Marvin Freeman (2-4) with run-scoring singles by Chipper Jones, Ryan Klesko, Javier Lopez and Mark Lemke.

New York 10, Houston 4--Todd Hundley had a three-run homer and Bret Saberhagen gave up five hits in eight innings at New York.

Ryan Thompson added a solo homer and Bobby Bonilla had three singles as the Mets had 13 hits off four Houston pitchers.

Saberhagen (3-2), now 4-0 in his career against Houston, struck out four and walked two.

Philadelphia 5, Florida 3--Darren Daulton broke a tie in the seventh inning with a two-run homer at Philadelphia.

Daulton lined a pitch from Yorkis Perez (0-2) over the right-field wall to give the Phillies a 5-3 lead. The homer, his sixth, scored Mickey Morandini.

Curt Schilling (5-1) gave up seven hits and struck out nine in seven innings. Heathcliff Slocumb pitched the ninth for his 16th save.