Rockies Rally for Victory

Dante Bichette hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning, his first this season, as the Colorado Rockies rallied from five runs down for an 11-9 victory over the San Diego Padres at Denver.

Bichette, who led the league with 40 homers last season, hit the first pitch from former teammate Willie Blair (0-2) over the center-field wall to give the Rockies a 10-9 lead.

Tony Gwynn and Andujar Cedeno drove in two runs each and Wally Joyner collected his 1,500th career hit for the Padres.

Gwynn, who got the Padres’ only hit against Atlanta’s John Smoltz on Sunday, left the game in the seventh inning because of an inflamed left heel. He is listed as day-to-day.

San Diego starter Bob Tewksbury, who carried a 0.66 ERA into the game, gave up 12 hits and eight runs in five innings.

Cincinnati 3, Chicago 2--Barry Larkin homered off Bob Patterson with one out in the 10th inning at Chicago.

“Barry always does that,” Reds’ manager Ray Knight said. “That’s why he’s the best player in our league.”

Cincinnati starter Dave Burba struck out a career-high 11 in seven innings, but left with the score tied, 2-2, and did not get a decision.

Chicago’s Sammy Sosa struck out in all five at-bats.

Red outfielder Reggie Sanders, who has been bothered by a sore lower back, will undergo an MRI test today in Chicago.

St. Louis 6, Pittsburgh 4--Ron Gant homered, doubled and drove in four runs at St. Louis as the Cardinals won for the fifth time in six games.

Royce Clayton’s run-scoring single in the seventh off Jason Christiansen gave the Cardinals a 6-4 lead. Rick Honeycutt struck out three of the last four batters for his first National League save since Aug. 20, 1985.

Pittsburgh has lost five of its last seven.

The Cardinals scored first for the 11th time in 13 games as Clayton singled with one out in the first, stole second and came home on Gant’s two-out hit.

John Ericks lasted four innings for the Pirates, giving up five runs and six hits. A No. 1 draft pick by the Cardinals in 1988, he has lost his last seven decisions.