Kile Extends Astros’ Win Streak to Seven

The Atlanta Braves are supposed to have the best starting pitching in baseball. Obviously, someone forgot to tell Darryl Kile and the Houston Astros.

Kile became the first Houston pitcher in two years to throw complete games in consecutive starts as the Astros beat the Braves, 7-1, Friday night at Atlanta and stretched their winning streak to seven, their longest in five years.

“Our starting pitching has been high quality for a month,” said Houston Manager Terry Collins, whose five-man rotation has a combined record of 34-20, a better percentage than Atlanta’s mark of 41-26. “There’s only been two or three games where it wasn’t a quality start.”

The first-place Astros, whose winning streak is their longest since a nine-game spurt in 1991, won their second in a row over the National League East-leading Braves, who were booed by the home crowd for their shoddy play.

“That was pretty ugly,” Brave third baseman Chipper Jones said. “Obviously, we didn’t play real well tonight, and I’m sure they enjoy kicking our butts on the other side.”

Kile (8-5) gave up nine hits and won his seventh road decision. He struck out five, giving him 128 in 123 innings, and walked only two.

“Control makes it easier for me,” he said. “I had two good pitches tonight and they went where I wanted them to go.”

Kile pitched a six-hitter against the New York Mets last Sunday. The last Houston pitcher to throw consecutive complete games had been Doug Drabek on May 8 and 13, 1994.

San Diego 7, San Francisco 6--Pinch-hitter Brian Johnson singled home the winning run with two outs in the 11th inning at San Diego, and the Padres won their seventh in a row over the Giants.

Rickey Henderson doubled off Jose Bautista (1-1) leading off the 11th and Steve Finley was walked intentionally with one out. Rod Beck relieved and struck out Ken Caminiti, and Johnson’s single to left scored Henderson, who slid home ahead of Barry Bonds’ throw.

Giant pitcher Mark Gardner underwent an emergency appendectomy during the game. He complained of stomach pains during warmups before the game and was examined by Padres team physician Dr. Blaine Phillips.

Dr. Gustavo Kuster performed an appendectomy on Gardner at Green Hospital.

St. Louis 7, Pittsburgh 4--Gary Gaetti drove in three runs and the Cardinals beat Zane Smith for the second time in six days to win their fifth game in a row against the Pirates at Pittsburgh.

Brian Jordan had a two-run single in the fourth inning, giving him six RBIs in two days, as St. Louis scored all of its runs with two outs.

The Cardinals, who have won seven of nine from Pittsburgh, have outscored the Pirates, 24-8, in their last three games.

Todd Stottlemyre (8-6) gave up three runs on six hits, striking out five over 6 2/3 innings.

Smith (4-6), who lasted only 1 1/3 innings in a 10-3 loss to the Cardinals on Sunday, gave up seven runs on eight hits over 3 2/3 innings and is in danger of losing his spot in the rotation or being released over the All-Star break.

The left-hander is 0-3 in his last four starts, allowing 30 hits and 21 earned runs in 13 1/3 innings, a 14.18 earned-run average.

New York 9, Montreal 6--Carl Everett singled home the go-ahead run in the eighth inning as the Mets won their third in a row at Montreal.

Expo starter Pedro Martinez, 8-0 lifetime against the Mets, took a 6-2 lead into the seventh. He left during a four-run rally that tied the score.

Philadelphia 7, Florida 4--Todd Zeile hit a two-run single in a six-run seventh inning as the Phillies extended the Marlins’ losing streak to six at Philadelphia.

Philadelphia had 14 hits, all singles, in sending Florida to its eighth consecutive road loss. The Phillies, who entered the game as the NL’s weakest-hitting team, have 41 hits in their last three games.

Cincinnati 3, Chicago 0--Barry Larkin homered twice off all-star pitcher Steve Trachsel (7-5) as the Reds won at Chicago.