Sanders’ Good Stuff and Joyner’s Bat Lead Padres Over Expos

Scott Sanders is tough to beat when he has his good stuff. Just ask the Montreal Expos.

Sanders pitched one-hit ball over eight innings Friday night as the San Diego Padres won their sixth consecutive game, 6-0, over the Expos at Montreal.

“He’s got great stuff. He’s poised, with a good fastball and a good changeup against lefties,” said Montreal Manager Felipe Alou. “He also got us not swinging the bats very well. That’s not a good combination.”

Wally Joyner drove in two runs in San Diego’s four-run third inning as the Padres moved a season-high 16 games over .500--their best mark since the end of the 1989 season.

Houston 10, Pittsburgh 0--Sean Berry matched a career high with six runs batted in and Jeff Bagwell went four for five to back the first major-league shutout of Donne Wall (9-4), at Pittsburgh.

Berry had two-run singles in the third and the Astros’ five-run sixth. He added an RBI single and a run-scoring force play double for his third career six-RBI game. Berry has a career-high 79 RBIs this season.

Florida 3, Cincinnati 1--Kevin Brown pitched a complete game and Luis Castillo hit his first major-league homer at Cincinnati as the Marlins extended their winning streak to seven games.

Brown (14-10) won his fourth consecutive start and reduced his National League-leading earned-run average to 1.92 by giving up only a first-inning run on a wild pitch. The right-hander scattered eight hits and struck out eight without walking a batter in his fifth complete game.

San Francisco 6, New York 4--Rookie Shawn Estes came within one out of his first career complete game, and Marvin Benard went three for four with a homer as the Giants kept the Mets winless under Bobby Valentine at New York.

Estes (3-4) gave up two hits in the second inning, but then held the Mets to one hit over 7 1/3 innings before giving up a two-out single in the ninth.

St. Louis 7, Colorado 4--Alan Benes became the first St. Louis rookie to win 12 games since 1971, Tom Pagnozzi drove in three runs and Ray Lankford had four hits at St. Louis.

Benes (12-8) gave up six hits in six innings. He is the first St. Louis rookie to win a dozen games since Reggie Cleveland won 12 in 1971.

Chicago 3-5, Atlanta 2-6--Marquis Grissom’s sacrifice fly capped a two-run ninth inning as the Braves rallied to defeat the Cubs in the night game, salvaging a doubleheader split.

The Cubs won the first game as Kevin Foster (6-2) pitched three-hit ball over eight innings and drove in two runs.

In the second game, Terry Pendleton led off the ninth with a single off Kent Bottenfield (2-4). Andruw Jones grounded to second baseman Todd Haney, but shortstop Jose Hernandez dropped the ball covering second.

Chipper Jones tied it with an RBI single off reliever Bob Patterson, and two batters later pinch-hitter Grissom put the Braves ahead with his sacrifice fly.