NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Rookie Pitcher Upstages Sanders’ Debut

Deion Sanders was upstaged by a rookie teammate Monday night when both made their debut for the San Francisco Giants.

Jamie Brewington pitched seven strong innings in his first major-league game, earning the victory as the Giants beat the Florida Marlins, 8-3, at Miami.

“He didn’t pitch like a rookie,” Sanders said. “I’m happy for him.”

Sanders, acquired from Cincinnati in a trade Friday, joined the team 2 1/2 hours before the game, batted leadoff and went one for six as the Giants won for just the fourth time in their past 15 games.

“Maybe I’m a rabbit’s foot,” Sanders said. “When I go to another city, great things happen, and great things are going to happen here.”

Sanders, slowed by a sore ankle for nearly two months, singled home a run in the seventh and continued all the way to third when center fielder Jerry Browne bobbled the ball for an error.

The 23-year-old Brewington, recalled Sunday from double-A Shreveport, gave up three runs and six hits, including solo home runs by Greg Colbrunn and Charles Johnson. He struck out two and walked three.

“The game is already like a memory,” said Brewington, who was called up to replace Mark Portugal, who went to Cincinnati in the Sanders’ deal.

“I don’t remember a lot of it. I was very nervous before the game, but I had a good team behind me and they played great defense.”

Left fielder Jeff Conine, who has sat out only one game in the Marlins’ three-year history, departed in the fifth inning with a sprained left shoulder.

San Diego 10, Cincinnati 8--The Padres rocked Mark Portugal for nine runs in his debut with the Reds at Cincinnati, ending the team’s five-game winning streak.

Portugal (5-6), wearing Sanders’ No. 21, got jeered by the home crowd as he yielded 11 hits and nine runs--seven earned--in 3 1/3 innings. Portugal, counted on to replace the injured Jose Rijo, has lost his last four starts and his last six decisions. The right-hander has failed to go five innings in three of his last four starts and has a 7.25 ERA since his last victory June 18.

Dave Burba, another player involved in the trade, came on and gave up a two-run single to Eddie Williams that completed a six-run fourth inning.

Colorado 11, Philadelphia 3--Rookie Bryan Rekar overcame a pinch-hit home run by pitcher Omar Olivares and threw the Rockies’ first complete game of the season at Philadelphia.

Olivares, batting for pitcher Tyler Green, became the first pitcher to connect for a pinch-hit homer since Don Robinson for Pittsburgh on June 19, 1990, against San Diego.

Olivares, hitting .143 this season, had a two-run shot in the fifth inning for the fourth homer of his career.

Atlanta 3, Pittsburgh 2--Ryan Klesko’s home run to straightaway center field broke a ninth-inning tie as the Braves beat the Pirates at Pittsburgh for their their 17th victory in their last 21 games.

Chicago 5, New York 3--Mark Grace’s two-run double highlighted a four-run fifth inning as the Cubs snapped a seven-game losing streak by beating the Mets at Chicago.