NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Rockies Turn Power Back On Against Mets

With only six homers in the previous six games of their home stand, the Colorado Rockies seemed to be suffering from a power outage. It ended Sunday.

Dante Bichette, Vinny Castilla and Ellis Burks homered during a five-run first inning to lead the Rockies to an 8-5 victory over the New York Mets.

Bichette hit a three-run homer, his 17th of the season, all at Coors Field. Castilla followed with his 20th, his third in two days, and Ellis Burks hit his first of two home runs in the game. All three came off starter Bobby Jones.

“Bobby Jones got a couple of balls up, and I think Bobby Jones found out what happens when you elevate the ball in this ballpark,” Colorado Manager Don Baylor said. “You’re going to get yourself in trouble more often than not.”

It was the third time this year and the fifth time in team history that the Rockies hit three home runs in an inning.

Colorado extended its lead in the third inning after two were out when Jones walked Castilla and Burks followed with his seventh homer of the season. It was his ninth two-homer game.

Atlanta 2, San Diego 1--Jeff Blauser’s sacrifice fly with one out in the eighth inning gave John Smoltz the victory at Atlanta.

Mark Lemke started the winning rally with a single off starter Joey Hamilton, then gave way to pinch-runner Mike Kelly. Pinch-hitter Dwight Smith was hit by a pitch and Marquis Grissom singled, his third hit of the game, to load the bases. After Doug Bochtler relieved Hamilton, Blauser hit a fly ball to right field deep enough to score Kelly.

Smoltz gave up eight hits, walked none and struck out 10 in eight innings. Mark Wohlers struck out three batters in the ninth and earned his 10th save in 12 opportunities.

It was the Braves’ 16th victory in 20 games, and the 11th in their final at-bat this season.

Cincinnati 7, Chicago 5--Bret Boone hit a three-run homer to cap a four-run rally with two out in the 10th inning, giving the Reds their first three-game sweep over the Cubs at Riverfront Stadium since 1981.

Boone’s homer off Randy Myers sent the Cubs to their season-high seventh loss in a row. They are 1-11 since the All-Star break.

Houston 3, San Francisco 2--Derrick May’s run-scoring single with two out in the 10th inning gave the Astros the victory at Houston.

After Houston tied the score in the ninth, Craig Biggio led off the 10th with a single to center and then stole second base. After Jeff Bagwell flied out and Derek Bell struck out, Dave Magadan was walked intentionally. May followed with his single.

The Astros came from behind to win for the 11th time in their last 13 victories.

Montreal 8, Pittsburgh 2--Center fielder Jacob Brumfield misplayed two fly balls into three runs and Moises Alou hit a two-run homer as the Expos prevented the Pirates from sweeping a three-game series from Montreal at Three Rivers Stadium for the first time since 1980.

Jeff Fassero (10-7) pitched a six-hitter for his first complete game of the season. He is 2-1 with an 0.82 ERA in three starts against Pittsburgh this season.

Philadelphia 10, St. Louis 6--Tony Longmire, making only his 11th start of the season, drove in three runs at Philadelphia to help the Phillies win for only the fourth time in their last 15 games.

Longmire, who is nine for 30 as a pinch-hitter, played right field in place of Jim Eisenreich and had three hits in five at-bats to raise his average to .360.