NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Rockies Take Over First Place

Andres Galarraga doubled with one out in the 12th inning Monday night to give Colorado a 5-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves at Denver and move the Rockies into sole possession of first place in the NL West.

The Rockies moved a game ahead of the Dodgers, who were beaten, 12-1, at Chicago. The Braves failed to clinch at least a share of the NL East title and still have a magic number of two to clinch a fourth consecutive division title.

Mike Kingery walked leading off the 12th against Brad Woodall (1-1). Bryan Hickerson sacrificed Kingery to second, and after Woodall intentionally walked Larry Walker, Galarraga hit a 1-1 pitch off the left-field wall to score Kingery.

Hickerson (3-3) pitched the final two innings as the Rockies beat the Braves for the first time at Coors Field, and for only the second time in Denver. Atlanta leads the series at Colorado, 15-2.

Dwight Smith hit a pinch-hit RBI single with one out in the top of the ninth inning to tie it, 4-4.

Chipper Jones and Fred McGriff started the ninth with singles off reliever Bruce Ruffin. After Ruffin retired David Justice, who earlier had a three-run homer, on a fly to center, Ruffin was relieved by Curtis Leskanic and Smith singled on the first pitch.

Montreal 5, New York 0--Pedro Martinez threw a four-hitter at Montreal, improving to 7-0 lifetime against the Mets as the Expos averted a four-game sweep.

“I don’t do anything different against them,” said Martinez (13-8), who has a 1.11 career earned-run average against New York. “It seems I make the right adjustments.”

Martinez yielded two singles in the first inning and another in the fourth. He retired 11 in a row before Joe Orsulak singled with one out in the eighth.

The right-hander struck out six and walked three in his second complete game of the season, both shutouts.

Pittsburgh 7, San Diego 5--Al Martin had three hits as the Pirates won at Pittsburgh to end a five-game losing streak.

Andy Ashby (9-10) lost his fourth consecutive decision as the Padres lost their fourth game in a row and continue to fade in the wild-card race. Ashby gave up six runs, four earned, on five hits. He walked five, hit a batter and threw two wild pitches that allowed runs to score.

Jon Lieber (3-7) got the win with 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. It was his first major league victory since June 7. He was sent to the minor leagues on June 18 and recalled at the start of this month.

St. Louis 13, San Francisco 4-- Ray Lankford and Brian Jordan each homered and drove in three runs as the Cardinals won their fourth game in a row, crushing the Giants at St. Louis.

Ozzie Smith turned a double play in the fourth, tying the career record for shortstops of 1,553 held by Luis Aparacio.

Cincinnati 2, Florida 1--Jerome Walton’s single with two out in the bottom of the 11th inning lifted the Reds at Cincinnati. Cincinnati won for only the fourth time in 12 games, ending a four-game losing streak against the Marlins.