Rockies Rally to Outscore Cardinals, 12-11

Pinch-hitter Pedro Castellano lined a run-scoring single in the eighth inning Friday night, lifting the Colorado Rockies to a 12-11 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in a typical Coors Field slugfest in Denver.

Ellis Burks led off the eighth with a single and, with two outs and first base open, Andres Galarraga was intentionally walked. Castellano, in his first at-bat since being called up from the minors Sunday, singled off Rick Honeycutt.

St. Louis’ Tom Pagnozzi hit two two-run homers and Brian Jordan homered and drove in four runs for the Cardinals. Burks had a home run and three RBIs, and Galarraga was three for three with three RBIs.

Atlanta 8, Cincinnati 2--Jermaine Dye wasted no time hitting his first big league home run for the Braves at Atlanta as he helped Greg Maddux win for the first time in three weeks.

Dye, recalled from the minors to replace David Justice, homered in his first at-bat in the majors as Atlanta won for the 10th time in its last 12 games.

“I had the jitters, so I took the first pitch just to get a feel for what he was throwing,” said Dye, who entered the game as a defensive replacement in the outfield in the top of the fifth inning. “He left the next pitch out over the plate, and I was able to drive it and it went out of the ballpark.”

Maddux (5-3), seeking his fifth consecutive Cy Young Award, had two losses and a no-decision in his last three starts. He gave up 10 hits, including one in each of his seven innings. He walked none and struck out seven.

Marquis Grissom hit a three-run triple that keyed a five-run second inning. Fred McGriff opened the inning with his 10th home run of the season. Ryan Klesko hit his 13th homer later for the Braves.

Houston 4, Pittsburgh 2--Pinch-hitter Derrick May hit a two-run homer and Brian Hunter followed with a solo home run to rally the Astros at Houston.

Houston Manager Terry Collins had moved May from his platoon spot in left field to the bench two weeks ago to give James Mouton the full-time position.

“I just thought this would make us a better club with him [May] coming off the bench,” Collins said.

Ricky Gutierrez tripled to start the eighth before May homered on a full count to give the Astros a 3-2 lead. Hunter then homered to left.

“I did that [pinch-hit] last year too, I’m feeling comfortable with it now,” May said. “I feel I can help the team from the bench. I’ll just go with it and not get too serious.”

Shane Reynolds pitched eight innings, striking seven and walking one, and Todd Jones pitched a perfect ninth inning for his ninth save.

Chicago 3, Florida 1--Jim Bullinger gave up four hits over eight innings and Ryne Sandberg hit a two-run homer to lead the Cubs over the Marlins at Chicago.

Bullinger, who shut out the New York Mets on two hits in his last start, struck out six and walked two.

“I kept the ball down and threw a lot of sinkers,” Bullinger said. “I need to do that to pitch well.”

Florida’s Al Leiter, who pitched a no-hitter last Saturday against Colorado, gave up only two hits and two walks and hit a batter in seven innings. But he gave up Sandberg’s ninth home run of the season with one on in the sixth.

San Diego 2, Montreal 1--Brian Johnson homered with one out in the bottom of the 12th inning to lift the Padres to a victory over the Expos in a meeting of division leaders at San Diego.

Johnson, who has recently replaced Brad Ausmus as the starting catcher, won the game with his third homer of the season and only the second hit for San Diego since the third inning.

Montreal’s Pedro Martinez and San Diego’s Bob Tewksbury were involved in a pitching duel through eight innings.

Trevor Hoffman struck out the side in the 12th to gain the victory for the Padres. Mel Rojas suffered the loss for the Expos.