Walker Gives the Rockies Something Extra

There is no place like home for Larry Walker and the Colorado Rockies. After suffering through seven consecutive losses on the road, Walker and the Rockies have reversed the situation at Coors Field in Denver.

In Wednesday’s 6-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates that gave the Rockies back-to-back three-game series sweeps, Walker set a National League record for consecutive extra-base hits.

After Walker doubled, tripled and homered in his final three at-bats Tuesday, he doubled in his first at-bat Wednesday and followed with successive triples before being walked in the seventh as Colorado won for the ninth consecutive time at home.

“Last week we had another streak going and part of that had to do with Walker not hitting,” Colorado Manager Don Baylor said. “Right now Walker is on one of those streaks that you don’t see many players have and the team has turned things around.”

During the past six games, Walker has been on a tear, hitting three home runs, driving in 12 runs and batting .580 (14 for 24).

St. Louis 5, Houston 2--Struggling rookie Alan Benes came within two outs of his first shutout and the visiting Cardinals defeated Houston for their first three-game sweep of the Astros since 1987.

Benes (4-3) ended a three-game losing streak, giving up two runs in the ninth inning before giving way to T.J. Mathews, who got his second save.

Brian Jordan highlighted a three-run fifth off Darryl Kile (5-3) with a two-run double.

Montreal 4, San Francisco 3--Pedro Martinez threw seven strong innings and his walk started the winning rally as the visiting Expos defeated the Giants to avoid a series sweep.

“My mind-set in that last at-bat was to get on base no matter how,” said Martinez, who drew a one-out walk in the seventh from William VanLandingham (2-7) and scored on a sacrifice fly by Andy Stankiewicz.

Cincinnati 4, Florida 1--Bret Boone singled with the bases loaded in the seventh inning as the Reds ended their seven-game losing streak with a victory over the Marlins at Cincinnati.

The Marlins gave up 11 walks--nine by Al Leiter--and lost for only the the third time in 16 games. Leiter (6-4) set a club record and matched his personal high with the nine walks. The bullpen walked two more and threw a run-producing wild pitch in Cincinnati’s four-run seventh.

Atlanta 9, Chicago 4--Tom Glavine won his fourth consecutive decision and Chipper Jones hit two homers in a game for the first time in his career, helping lead the Braves in Atlanta.

Glavine (5-3) limited the Cubs to two runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings and extended his lifetime record against the Cubs to 10-5. He struck out eight and walked three.

Jones, who has 12 hits in his last 18 at-bats, hit a solo homer in the second and a two-run homer in the fifth.

San Diego 5, Philadelphia 2--Wally Joyner hit two homers and drove in five runs and Joey Hamilton struck out a career-high 10 as the Padres defeated the Phillies at San Diego.

Joyner broke up a close game with a two-run shot off Dave Leiper with two outs in the eighth inning. Tony Gwynn was aboard with his second single of the night. It was Joyner’s fifth home run of the season and eighth career two-homer game.