Padres Sweep Giants, Move Into First Place

Ken Caminiti is reluctant to put too much into the San Diego Padres’ first sweep of the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park.

“You want to say you’re out of the woods when you sweep a team,” Caminiti said after San Diego’s 7-4 victory over San Francisco Sunday, “but the fact is we had good luck here, and L.A.’s coming right up.”

The Padres head home to face the Dodgers beginning tonight with a one-game lead in the West and a full head of steam. Steve Finley hit his fourth home run in four games and Caminiti hit one right behind him, staking Bob Tewksbury to a 2-0 lead in the first.

“The team’s been coming out of the chute,” Tewksbury said. “As a pitcher, when you get ahead like that, you don’t relax, but you don’t have to be as fine.”

San Diego’s four-game sweep was its first ever in San Francisco, and also extended the Padres’ road winning streak against the Giants to eight games. San Diego had dropped 19 of 23 games before its visit to Candlestick.

The Giants have lost 10 consecutive games for the first time since their 100-loss season in 1985.

“I’m tired of talking about it,” Giant Manager Dusty Baker said. “These have been the worst 10 days of my managerial career. The Padres came in and kicked our butts.”

Houston 9, New York 3--Darryl Kile pitched a six-hitter as the Astros beat the Mets at Houston.

The Astros, who have won four of their last five, remained tied with St. Louis, which beat Pittsburgh, for first place in the Central Division.

St. Louis 10, Pittsburgh 3--Todd Stottlemyre pitched six innings and helped himself with three hits, and Ron Gant drove in three runs as the Cardinals completed a three-game sweep of Pittsburgh at St. Louis.

The Cardinals’ sweep was their first of the Pirates since June 1993, and gave St. Louis its eighth consecutive victory at home. The Pirates have lost nine of their last 13.

Montreal 6, Philadelphia 5--Pinch-hitter Cliff Floyd hit a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning to cap a four-run rally as the Expos won at Philadelphia.

Chicago 6, Cincinnati 0--Steve Trachsel pitched seven shutout innings in wilting heat to win his career-high fourth consecutive decision as the Cubs beat the Reds at Cincinnati.

Atlanta 5, Florida 4--Jeff Blauser’s two-run homer capped a three-run seventh inning as the Braves avoided getting swept by Florida at Miami.

The Braves trailed, 4-2, entering the seventh before rallying against Florida starter John Burkett, who retired 15 consecutive batters during one stretch.