Rookie Pitcher’s Errors Cost Braves

Rookie pitcher Tom Thobe made two errors that let the Padres score the go-ahead run in the 15th inning, then grounded out to end the game, giving San Diego a 2-1 victory Sunday over the host Atlanta Braves.

Steve Finley hit a sacrifice fly in the Padres’ half of the 15th. But with a runner on first and two outs in the Atlanta half, the Padres intentionally walked Fred McGriff.

The Braves, with no position players left to pinch hit, let Thobe bat for the first time in the majors. After badly missing the first pitch, he grounded weakly to second.

Rickey Henderson, unable to start because of a rib injury, led off the 15th with a single. Luis Lopez then reached on a throwing error by Thobe (0-1), and Brad Ausmus was safe when Thobe missed first base while covering the bag.

The Padres, out of position players, used pitcher Sean Bergman as a pinch-hitter and he fouled out. But Finley followed with a sacrifice fly to right.

San Francisco 7, Chicago 6--Mark Carreon hit a three-run homer and scored the go-ahead run on Steve Scarsone’s squeeze bunt in the sixth inning as the Giants won at Chicago.

With San Francisco trailing, 5-4, Bonds walked in the sixth and advanced on a passed ball by Scott Servais. Mark Carreon walked and Glenallen Hill tied the score with a single, chasing starter Steve Trachsel.

Carreon took third on Shawon Dunston’s flyout, and Scarsone bunted home the go-ahead run off Mike Perez.

Osvaldo Fernandez (3-0) gave up eight hits in five innings, struck out five and walked one. Rod Beck got four consecutive outs for his fourth save.

Philadelphia 4, St. Louis 2--Rookie Mike Grace gave up one run in 7 2/3 innings and Mike Lieberthal homered and drove in two runs, leading the Phillies over the Cardinals at Philadelphia.

Grace (3-0) gave up seven hits, struck out six and walked one, lowering his earned-run average from 4.74 to 4.05.

Grace left after two-out singles to Royce Clayton and Willie McGee in the eighth. Dave Leiper struck out Ray Lankford, and Ricky Bottalico pitched the ninth for his fifth save. Ron Gant took a called third strike on a 3-2 pitch, ending the game with runners on first and third.

Andy Benes (1-2) gave up four runs--three earned--and six hits in six innings. He struck out six and walked four.

Montreal 9, Pittsburgh 4--David Segui hit a grand slam and went four for five, leading the Expos past the Pirates at Montreal for a three-game sweep.

Segui hit his slam in the sixth inning and Sherman Obando followed with a home run, highlighting a six-run burst.

The Expos hit grand slams in consecutive games for the first time in their 28-year history. Darrin Fletcher connected Saturday in an 11-2 victory.

Montreal trailed, 4-3, when Mark Grudzielanek and Mike Lansing drew one-out walks in the sixth from Jason Christianson (1-2). Rondell White singled and F.P Santangelo followed with a tying single. Segui hit an 0-1 pitch for his second career grand slam.

Houston 7, Cincinnati 5--Derek Bell hit a tiebreaking, three-run homer in the eighth inning, and the Astros defeated the host Reds.

After Barry Larkin’s homer helped the Reds tie it, 4-4, in the top of the eighth, the Astros’ Brian Hunter singled with one out and Jeff Bagwell singled with two outs. Bell then extended his hitting streak to 10 games by driving the first pitch from Jeff Brantley (0-1) over the left-field fence for his third homer of the season.

Todd Jones (3-0) pitched 1 1/3 innings for the victory. All three of Jones’ victories have come after he has blown save chances. He gave up a run-scoring single in the ninth to Eric Anthony.

Colorado 6, New York 4--Met reliever John Franco loaded the bases in the ninth inning, then gave up a single to Walt Weiss that outfielder Lance Johnson bobbled and threw away for a double error, giving the Rockies the victory at New York.

With the Mets leading, 3-2, following Johnson’s two-run triple in the eighth, Franco walked Jason Bates with one out, gave up a single to Trenidad Hubbard and walked Larry Walker.

Weiss then blooped a single to center that Johnson let roll off his glove as Bates scored and Hubbard went to third. Johnson’s throw went up the first-base line, and Hubbard scored for a 4-3 Rocky lead.