Gwynn Stays Hot as Padres Hit Top

Tony Gwynn didn’t forget how to hit while he was sidelined because of an Achilles’ tendon injury.

Gwynn, batting .391 since coming off the disabled list on Aug. 12, went four-for-four and scored both San Diego runs and Scott Sanders pitched eight strong innings as the Padres beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 2-1, Wednesday night at Philadelphia to take a one-game lead over the Dodgers in the NL West.

Gwynn’s double and three singles raised his batting average to .352. The six-time National League batting champion has the league’s highest average, but doesn’t have enough plate appearances to be considered for the title.

Gwynn needs to average 4.68 plate appearances in the Padres’ final 22 games to qualify for another championship.

“Nothing Tony Gwynn does ever surprises me,” Phillie Manager Jim Fregosi said. “He’s been amazing for a long time.”

Even Phillie rookie pitcher Matt Beech was impressed.

“I grew up watching Tony Gwynn. I have a lot of respect for him,” Beech said. “I’ll be telling my grandchildren I faced him. I just wish I could tell them I got him out.”

Sanders (9-4), who moved into the starting rotation July 5, won his fifth consecutive decision, giving up four hits and an unearned run. He struck out three and walked two.

Montreal 6, San Francisco 0--Rookie Jose Paniagua gave up two hits in 8 1/3 innings at Montreal as the Expos won their fifth consecutive game.

Paniagua, 23, took a no-hitter into the eighth before Rick Wilkins hit a leadoff double. Paniagua (2-2), who was making his sixth major-league start, lost a chance for his first shutout when he was removed after giving up a one-out single in the ninth. He struck out six and walked three.

Cincinnati 12, Atlanta 6--Tom Glavine had one of the worst outings of his career, giving up nine hits and eight runs in four innings as the Braves lost their season-high fifth in a row at Cincinnati.

Willie Greene drove in a career-high five runs as the Reds completed their first three-game home sweep of the Braves since June 26-28, 1992.

Florida 9, Chicago 2--Kevin Brown won his fifth consecutive start at Miami to become the Marlins’ first 15-game winner.

St. Louis 6, Houston 4--The Cardinals completed a three-game sweep at St. Louis to take a 1 1/2-game lead over the Astros in the NL Central.

Pittsburgh 5, Colorado 2--Jon Lieber came within one out of his first complete game of the season, and Mark Johnson and Al Martin homered at Pittsburgh.