Marlins, Rookie Continue Win Streak

Florida Marlin rookie outfielder Todd Dunwoody remains unbeaten in the big leagues.

Dunwoody’s bases-loaded single for his third run batted in capped a two-run rally against John Franco in a wild ninth inning Tuesday to help the Marlins defeat the New York Mets, 6-5, at Miami.

Florida has won eight consecutive games since Dunwoody made his major-league debut May 10.

“I feel like I’m walking on air,” Dunwoody said. “I don’t know if I’ll sleep tonight. I’ll be out here early Wednesday--I want to live this to the fullest.”

Franco (0-1) had converted 12 consecutive saves and hadn’t given up a run in 16 games, covering 18 2/3 innings.

“All good things have to end sometime,” Franco said. “It’s a shame it happened tonight.”

The Marlins have the longest current winning streak in the major leagues. They need a victory today against New York to tie the team record of nine in a row set in May 1996.

Dunwoody, recalled from triple-A Charlotte on May 9, is hitting .389 with six RBIs.

“It’s phenomenal,” he said. “I’ve never felt better in my life. I came up to contribute, and fortunately I’ve been doing that.”

St. Louis 3, Pittsburgh 1--Making his season debut, Danny Jackson gave up three hits in 6 1/3 innings as the Cardinals ended a four-game losing streak by defeating the Pirates at St. Louis.

Jackson had been sidelined since early in spring training because of a rib-cage muscle pull. He sat out most of last season after ankle surgery, making this his fifth start in two seasons. He is in the final season of a $10.8 million, three-year deal.

“The heart was pounding most of the time,” Jackson said. “There was no settling down. Hopefully, I’ll never settle down.”

Jackson had a 1.80 earned-run average in four rehab starts for triple-A Louisville and he was just as tough on the Pirates, who got only singles by Joe Randa in the second and Kevin Polcovich in the fifth. Jackson struck out five, getting leadoff hitter Tony Womack three times.

“Obviously, we’ve been struggling,” Jackson said. “I just wanted to go out there and really try to shut them down as much as I could.”

Ron Gant homered for the third time in four games and John Mabry had two RBIs as the Cardinals won for only the second time in 10 games. The Pirates have lost four in a row and seven of nine.

“We hit some balls hard,” Gant said. “Tonight was a sign of life for us.”

Dennis Eckersley, the Cardinals’ third pitcher, worked the ninth for his eighth save in nine chances.

Philadelphia 3, Chicago 2--Mark Leiter gave up three hits in eight innings and Ricky Bottalico survived a wild ninth inning by striking out the side, giving the Phillies a victory at Chicago.

Rookie Scott Rolen and Gregg Jefferies each homered for the Phillies, who took a 3-1 lead into the ninth. Bottalico gave up three consecutive singles, including a run-scoring base hit to Dave Clark. One out later, Scott Servais was walked intentionally before Bottalico struck out pinch-hitters Brooks Kieschnick and Mike Hubbard for his 11th save.

Rolen homered for the fourth time in five games, hitting a two-run shot in the first. Jefferies hit his third homer with one out in the seventh.

Cincinnati 7, Houston 4--John Smiley kept his unbeaten string against the Astros and Curtis Goodwin had four hits to lead the Reds at Houston.

Smiley (4-6) has not lost to Houston since May 8, 1993, and is 8-0 in 10 games against the Astros since then.

“I don’t feel any different against them than anyone else,” said Smiley, who gave up eight hits in seven innings to win for the third time in four starts. “I feel good against most teams. I don’t have a club I’m real bad against. It [the 8-0 record] must be a fluke. I can’t put a finger on it.”

Hal Morris added three hits for the Reds, whose 14-29 record is baseball’s worst. Jeff Shaw earned his fifth save for the Reds.

San Francisco 6, Colorado 3--Jeff Kent hit his third grand slam this season and drove in a career-high five runs for the Giants at San Francisco.

Kent’s grand slam in the first inning helped William VanLandingham (2-2) get his first win since April 15. VanLandingham entered the game getting just 1.7 runs of support per game.

VanLandingham gave up three runs and four hits in seven innings to halt a five-outing winless string that included three no decisions and two losses.

Doug Henry pitched the eighth for San Francisco and Rod Beck got three outs for his 15th save.

Roger Bailey (4-4) walked a season-high seven in seven innings to lose his third consecutive start--all during the Rockies’ current 13-game road trip.

Ellis Burks and Vinny Castilla homered for Colorado, which dropped its fourth game in a row.

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

Player: Todd Dunwoody

Team: Florida

Performance: 3 for 5, 3 RBIs, triple, 2 singles

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Hal Morris

Team: Cincinnati

Performance: 3 for 5, run, 2 RBIs, 2 doubles

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: John Olerud

Team: New York

Performance: 2 for 5, 2 runs, 2 RBIs, home run

Team’s Result: Loss

PITCHING

Player: Mark Leiter

Team: Philadelphia

Performance: 8 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 5 strikeouts

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: John Smiley

Team: Cincinnati

Performance: 7 innings, 8 hits, 3 runs, 2 strikeouts

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Danny Jackson

Team: St. Louis

Performance: 6 1/3 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 5 strikeouts

Team’s Result: Win