Reed’s Error Opens Door for Rockies’ Victory

Pinch-runner Jayhawk Owens scored the go-ahead run on Jody Reed’s fielding error in the ninth inning, and the Colorado Rockies defeated San Diego, 5-4, Saturday night in front of the largest regular-season crowd in Padre history.

The attendance of 55,046 was the 12th crowd this season above 40,000, equaling the club mark set in 1984. The Padres drew 54,841 against Montreal on May 10, 1991.

With one out in the ninth, Jeff Reed tripled off the right-field wall against reliever Doug Bochtler (0-3). Owens then replaced Reed and scored when Jody Reed was unable to backhand Quinton McCracken’s grounder to second with the infield drawn in.

Curtis Leskanic (6-3) struck out the side in the eighth, and Bruce Ruffin worked the ninth to pick up his 16th save.

San Diego tied the score, 4-4, in the sixth inning on back-to-back homers by Wally Joyner and Rob Deer off starter Roger Bailey. Joyner’s leadoff home run, his sixth, was his first since coming off the disabled list July 11. Deer’s home run was his third.

Houston 2, Atlanta 1--Derek Bell singled home the winning run off Greg Maddux with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Astros beat Atlanta before the fourth-largest crowd in team history, 49,674.

Maddux (10-7) had retired 23 straight batters and given up only two hits entering the ninth. Pinch-hitter Sean Berry led off with a single and was replaced by pinch-runner James Mouton. John Cangelosi’s bunt was caught by first baseman Fred McGriff, who tried to double off Mouton but made a wild throw that let him move to second.

Craig Biggio grounded out, advancing Mouton to third, and Jeff Bagwell was intentionally walked. After the Braves let Bagwell take second, Bell lined a single up the middle.

Chicago 3, St. Louis 0--Steve Trachsel pitched four-hit ball for seven innings at St. Louis.

Trachsel (8-6) struck out seven and walked three. In his previous start, he was tagged by the Cardinals for six earned runs in four innings at Wrigley Field.

Cincinnati 9, Pittsburgh 3--Hal Morris scored after his bases-loaded single was helped along by two Pittsburgh errors in the sixth inning, sending the Reds past the Pirates at Pittsburgh.

Morris also hit a home run in the eighth as the Reds beat the Pirates for the fifth time in six games.

Roger Salkeld (5-3) won for the first time in four starts. Dan Miceli (1-6) lost despite striking out nine in five innings.

Florida 7, Philadelphia 4--Charles Johnson celebrated his 25th birthday by hitting a two-run homer and going three for three at Miami, leading the Marlins to their sixth straight victory.

New York 4, Montreal 1--Paul Wilson gave up three hits over eight innings and Todd Hundley hit his 26th home run to lead the Mets over the Expos at New York.

Wilson (4-5) retired 19 straight batters before Henry Rodriguez singled to start the eighth.