Braves Win and Get Set to Roam

In their last game before an 18-day trip that frees up Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium for the Olympics, the Atlanta Braves defeated the Montreal Expos, 3-2, Tuesday on Chipper Jones’ run-scoring single in the ninth.

After an off day today, the Braves leave Thursday for a 17-game trip to five cities, the Braves’ longest trip since moving to Atlanta. It frees up their park for the Olympic baseball tournament.

Atlanta extended its win streak to five and took a nine-game lead over the second-place Expos in the East. Montreal has lost nine of 11.

The Braves fell behind, 1-0, in the fourth on a squeeze bunt by F.P. Santangelo but went ahead on Javy Lopez’s two-run double in the eighth.

Colorado 5, San Francisco 3--Although they failed to set a major league record for offensive proficiency at home, the Rockies extended their winning streak to seven games.

Eric Young and Andres Galarraga homered, but the Rockies failed for the first time in 12 home games to score at least seven runs. They share the major league record with the 1938 New York Yankees.

Galarraga’s 23rd homer, 440 feet to center field, gave Colorado a two-run lead and the bullpen held on to send the Giants to their 19th loss in 23 games.

St. Louis 5, Cincinnati 4--Ray Lankford saved three runs with a spectacular catch in the right-center field gap.

“He’s basically beat us single-handedly the last two nights,” Reds Manager Ray Knight said of Lankford, who homered twice Monday. “I don’t think there’s a center fielder in the league who can move as well laterally as he can, and that’s including Marquis Grissom.”

With the bases loaded and Reds leading, 3-2, in the sixth, Thomas Howard hit a line drive that would have scored three runs but for Lankford’s catch.

New York 6, Philadelphia 3--Mark Clark survived a shaky first inning to win his sixth consecutive decision at Shea Stadium.

After falling behind, 2-0, in the first--and throwing 36 pitches--Clark (10-6) held the Phillies to one run over the next seven innings.

Curt Schilling (3-4), who had won seven consecutive decisions against New York, pitched a five-hitter for his first complete game since June 7, 1995.

Florida 3, Houston 2--Quilvio Veras drew a bases-loaded walk with two out in the ninth from Astros reliever Todd Jones at Miami.

The Marlins, who set a team record with 24 hits Monday night, scored the winning run in the ninth without a hit.

Greg Colbrunn walked with one out, Charles Johnson walked with two outs and pinch-hitter Andre Dawson was hit by a pitch.

Veras worked the count full against Jones (6-2) and, after a foul ball, took a pitch outside.

Pittsburgh 10, Chicago 5--The Pirates’ Denny Neagle shrugged off a stiff shoulder, a strong wind at Wrigley Field and a three-run homer by Sammy Sosa, his 30th, to win his third consecutive start.