NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Rockies Lose to Cardinals in a Grand Way

Danny Sheaffer hit his first career grand slam Saturday night to cap a five-run ninth inning as the St. Louis Cardinals rallied to beat the Colorado Rockies, 5-4, at Denver.

The Rockies missed another chance to move into first place in the NL West, and also dropped half a game behind Philadelphia for the wild-card lead.

Colorado was held hitless through six innings by Mark Petkovsek, then scored three times in the eighth, capped by a two-run pinch-single by slumping Ellis Burks, for a 3-0 lead.

But the Cardinals took advantage of a crucial error by shortstop Jason Bates and rallied off Curtis Leskanic and Bruce Ruffin (0-1), who gave up an RBI single to John Mabry before Sheaffer hit the Cardinals’ first grand slam of the season.

The late-inning scoring outburst overshadowed two strong pitching performance by Petkovsek and Colorado starter Bret Saberhagen.

Petkovsek had set down 10 in a row before Andres Galarraga hit a sharp single to left to open the seventh.

Saberhagen matched Petkovsek out for out, retiring 11 straight at one point before hitting Tom Pagnozzi on an 0-2 pitch to open the sixth.

Atlanta 7, Chicago 2--Greg Maddux tied a modern major league record with his 16th consecutive road victory, pitching a seven-hitter as the Braves won at Chicago.

Maddux (14-2) eclipsed the NL record of 15 consecutive road victories and now shares the major league record with Denny McLain (1968), Cal McLish (1958-59) and Richard Doston (1983-84).

Maddux has not lost a road decision since June 27, 1994, at Montreal.

It was the eighth complete game for Maddux and his second in a row. After giving up first-inning singles to Mark Grace and Sammy Sosa, the right-hander retired 19 of the next 20 batters before Todd Zeile opened the eighth with another single as Atlanta won its sixth game in a row.

New York 7, San Diego 6--Rookie Bill Pulsipher came within one out of his first major league shutout before the Padres scored six runs in the ninth inning as the Mets won at New York.

Pulsipher (5-6) won his fourth start in a row but lost his shutout when Archi Cianfroco hit a two-out RBI single in the ninth.

Pulsipher worked 8 2/3 innings and gave up 10 hits with one walk and three strikeouts.

The Padres lost their fourth in a row, but tied an NL record set by the 1929 Chicago Cubs with their ninth grand slam of the season.

Joe Orsulak went three for five with three RBIs for the Mets, who have won eight of their last 10.

Cincinnati 7, Pittsburgh 6--Frank Viola blew a five-run lead in his first start in 15 1/2 months, but Reggie Sanders continued his big series with a homer and go-ahead RBI single to lead the Reds at Pittsburgh.

Viola lasted 4 2/3 innings in his first appearance since requiring reconstructive left elbow surgery last year, but couldn’t hold a 5-0 lead and was lifted in the Pirates’ tying three-run fifth.

Sanders, who hit his third homer in two games, and Ed Taubensee restored the Reds’ lead with run-scoring singles in the sixth against reliever Paul Wagner (2-13), the NL’s first 13-game loser.

Florida 6, Houston 2--Willie Banks pitched seven strong innings in picking up a victory for the first time in his last 11 decisions as the Marlins won at Miami.

The Astros dropped their ninth game in row, matching their longest losing streak since 1983.

Banks (1-4), who gave up five hits and one run, had gone 16 starts without a win. His last victory was June 27, 1994, for the Cubs against Pittsburgh.

Steve Decker’s RBI groundout in the seventh inning broke a 1-1 tie, and pinch-hitter Alex Arias followed with a run-scoring double for Florida.

San Francisco 2, Montreal 1--Matt Williams hit a tie-breaking home run in the sixth inning, leading rookie Jamie Brewington and the Giants at Montreal.

Brewington (4-1) combined with three relievers on a four-hitter.

Mark Carreon went four for four with a double to extend a career-high 10-game hitting streak for the Giants. Barry Bonds singled home San Francisco’s first run.