Osborne’s First Homer Not Grand for Padres

Pitcher Donovan Osborne’s first career home run was a grand slam and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the San Diego Padres, 8-3, for their eighth consecutive victory Saturday at St. Louis.

Andy Ashby (8-4) retired the Cardinals in order in the first four innings, but they batted around in the fifth. Brian Jordan led off with a double, John Mabry walked with one out, Tom Pagnozzi followed with an RBI single and Luis Alicea singled to load the bases.

Osborne (12-8) hit Ashby’s first pitch over the right-field wall to make it 5-1.

Atlanta 6, New York 1--John Smoltz (21-7) tied a season high with 13 strikeouts at Atlanta.

Smoltz had a strikeout in every inning and didn’t walk anyone until the ninth.

The Braves gave Smoltz a comfortable margin to work with, going ahead in the second on Ryan Klesko’s RBI single and putting it away with Jermaine Dye’s three-run homer in the fourth against Bobby Jones (11-8).

Houston 5, Colorado 4--The Rockies’ Andres Galarraga, who hit his NL-leading 41st home run in the third inning, struck out with runners on second and third to end the game at Houston.

The Astros’ John Hudek relieved with two outs and a runner on first in the ninth, and Dante Bichette singled. But after Bichette stole second, Hudek struck out Galarraga.

Orlando Miller hit his 14th home run in the Houston sixth, breaking a 4-4 tie.

Cincinnati 7, San Francisco 5--Kevin Mitchell hit a tie-breaking three-run home run in the sixth inning to lead the Reds at Cincinnati.

Mitchell also doubled home a run in the first inning.

Roger Salkeld (8-4), the fourth of six pitchers used by the Reds, pitched two scoreless innings for the win.

Montreal 2, Florida 1--Mark Leiter, still undefeated with the Expos, pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings at Miami.

Leiter (8-10) is 4-0 since being traded from San Francisco to the Marlins on July 30. He gave up four hits.

Mike Lansing, who had three hits, had an RBI triple in the fifth that gave the Expos a 2-0 lead.

Philadelphia 4, Chicago 2--Pinch-hitter Ruben Amaro doubled home the go-ahead run in the seventh inning at Philadelphia.

Kevin Stocker opened the seventh with a triple and scored on Amaro’s hit for a 3-2 lead.