Cardinals Move Back into First

Ron Gant made a quick recovery from a torn rotator cuff, doubling twice and scoring three times Tuesday night as the St. Louis Cardinals moved into first place in the Central with a 12-3 victory over the Houston Astros at St. Louis.

Gant hurt his left, non-throwing shoulder making a headfirst slide into home plate on Friday night. He returned to left field and the third slot in the order and helped the Cardinals win their fifth in a row and extend their mastery over Houston to 10-2--including 5-0 at Busch Stadium.

St. Louis is back in first place for the first time since Aug. 19.

Gary Gaetti hit a two-run home run and Royce Clayton, Brian Jordan and Luis Alicea added two runs batted in apiece for the Cardinals, who rallied to beat the Astros for the second consecutive day and have come back in each victory during their streak.

Todd Stottlemyre (12-10) gave up four hits--all singles--and struck out nine in eight innings for only his second victory in six starts.

Astro starter Shane Reynolds (16-8) gave up nine hits--five for extra bases--in 6 2/3 innings.

Philadelphia 8, San Diego 2--Michael Mimbs came off the disabled list to win his second game and Scott Rolen homered and drove in four runs at Philadelphia.

Mimbs (2-7), activated earlier in the day after being on the DL since Aug. 11 because of sore left shoulder, gave up one hit in five innings--a two-out home run to Brian Johnson in the fifth inning.

Joey Hamilton (13-8), gave up five runs and 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked one.

Montreal 9, San Francisco 2--David Segui hit two two-run homers and Pedro Martinez (12-9) struck out 11 at Montreal, as the Expos won their fourth consecutive game.

Segui hit a two-run homer off Mark Gardner (10-6) in the fifth to give Montreal a 5-0 lead, and his two-run shot in the eighth off Rich Delucia made the score 9-2. It was the first multi-homer game of Segui’s career.

F.P. Santangelo also homered for Montreal, which handed the Giants their fourth consecutive loss.

Chicago 11, Florida 3--Ryne Sandberg homered and drove in three runs, and Jamie Navarro won his seventh consecutive decision to lead the Cubs at Miami.

Navarro (14-9), unbeaten in nine starts since July 16, gave up three runs and eight hits in five innings. He struck out six and walked five.

Al Leiter (14-12) gave up three hits and four runs--two earned--in 4 2/3 innings.

Cincinnati 5, Atlanta 1--Marquis Grissom opened the game with a home run at Cincinnati, but the Braves didn’t get another hit in losing their fourth in a row for the first time this season.

Dave Burba (9-13) gave up Grissom’s 21st homer on his third pitch of the game, then gave up only four walks over six innings and struck out seven. Jeff Shaw pitched three perfect innings to complete the one-hitter.

With Greg Maddux sidelined because of a tender right hamstring, Mike Bielecki (4-3) gave up five hits and four runs in five innings.