Galarraga Breaks Out of Slump

It’s all kind of technical, involving things like patience and the left shoulder and such, but all Andres Galarraga knew until he talked with some friends was that he was 0 for 12 and had struck out nine of those times.

“It’s kind of funny, because I haven’t felt uncomfortable at the plate,” Galarraga said. “But I kept striking out and I’d go back to the dugout wondering, ‘What’s wrong?’ ”

It was right on Saturday. Galarraga struck out in his first at-bat, then hit two three-run home runs and tied his club record with seven runs batted in for Colorado, which routed Florida, 17-5, at Denver.

The Rockies tied club records for runs, hits (21) and homers (five) in a game and set a club record for extra-base hits (10) in winning their third game in a row.

Eric Young, Ellis Burks and Larry Walker hit first-inning homers to key a seven-run outburst off Chris Hammond (1-5). Young and Burks, the first two batters, homered and, after a walk to Dante Bichette, Walker hit a two-run shot.

It was the most hits and runs ever allowed by the Marlins.

Galarraga hit his first three-run homer in the second inning off Dave Weathers. He added another--his ninth of the year--off Joel Adamson in the sixth. Galarraga also had an RBI single in the third inning.

“[Manager] Don Baylor and [hitting coach] Ken Griffey said I’ve been too quick and I’ve been trying to pull the ball,” Galarraga said. “When I’m patient and when I don’t open my left shoulder too quickly, I hit the ball to right field, which is good for me.”

His first homer sailed into the right-field bullpen. His RBI single went to right-center, and Galarraga knew he was back on track.

His other homer was a line drive to left.

The Rockies drew 48,101 and set a major-league record with their 66th consecutive sellout, bettering the old mark of 65 set by Baltimore on April 20, 1993.

Cincinnati 9, San Francisco 7--Reds’ Manager Ray Knight almost pinch-hit Thomas Howard for Eric Davis, then decided to let Davis hit in the seventh inning with the bases loaded. Davis rewarded the decision with a grand slam that gave Cincinnati a 7-5 lead.

Eric Anthony homered twice for the Reds, who scored five runs in the seventh to overcome a 5-3 deficit. Cincinnati added a run in the eighth inning when Lenny Harris stole home on the back end of a double steal with Eric Owens.

Barry Bonds and Matt Williams homered for the Giants, who hit four home runs, as did the Reds on a windless day at Candlestick Park.

Montreal 2, Houston 1--Henry Rodriguez hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning for the Expos, who rallied to win at Houston.

Houston took a 1-0 lead in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Brian Hunter, but the Expos came back against Xavier Hernandez (0-1).

Mike Lansing drew a leadoff walk and Rodriguez followed with his 11th home run of the season.

Atlanta 6, Philadelphia 3--Mark Lemke’s two-out double in the eighth inning drove in the go-ahead run and the Braves won at Atlanta, ending the Phillies’ three-game winning streak.

Jeff Blauser began the winning burst with a bunt that third baseman Todd Zeile mishandled for an error. Pinch-hitter Ed Giovanola sacrificed and Lemke made it 4-3 with his third hit of the game.

Chipper Jones followed with another RBI double off Ken Ryan (1-1) and later scored on a single by David Justice.

New York 7, Chicago 3--Jeff Kent hit a two-run homer and Butch Huskey drove in two runs for the Mets, who won at Chicago.

Bobby Jones (2-1) gave up six hits in 6 1/3 innings for New York, which won for the eighth time in 12 games.

Doug Henry pitched a perfect 2 2/3 innings of relief for his second save.

St. Louis 4, San Diego 3--Todd Stottlemyre won for the first time in a month and Ron Gant homered for the first time in three weeks for the Cardinals, who won at San Diego.

Stottlemyre (2-2), who hadn’t won since his first NL start on April 3, gave up two runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Dennis Eckersley pitched the ninth for his seventh save.