Neagle Beats Kile, and Beats Him to 18

Denny Neagle knew this wasn’t simply another start. Not when he was going up against fellow 17-game winner Darryl Kile in a game between two division leaders.

“I was definitely a little more pumped up than usual,” said Neagle, who pitched the Braves past the Houston Astros, 4-2, Thursday at Atlanta. “I knew I had to be on top of my game.”

Neagle gave up only four hits in seven innings to become the NL’s first 18-game winner, denying Kile the honor.

Javy Lopez, whose 11th-inning home run Tuesday night won the first game of the series, hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning after a catcher’s interference call to give Neagle (18-3) the victory.

With two outs and a runner at first, Ryan Klesko appeared to ground out to short. But his bat struck catcher Tony Eusebio’s glove on the swing, so Klesko was awarded first.

Klesko has reached base that way three times this season, leading the majors. He led the majors in that category last year too, drawing three interference calls.

“I don’t know what it is,” said Klesko, who also hit his first homer in more than a month. “I must be trying to swing before the ball gets to me. Whatever it takes to get on base.”

On the next pitch, Lopez hit his 21st home run, giving the Braves their first lead.

“I made up my mind that no matter what kind of pitch he threw me, I was going to swing at it--as long as it was a curveball,” Lopez said. “It was a good pitch for him to throw me.”

Atlanta starters have not given up more than three earned runs in their last 16 appearances, and the Braves ended a 10-game winning streak by Kile (17-4).

Mark Wohlers pitched a scoreless ninth for his 32nd save.

St. Louis 11, Montreal 5--Mark McGwire hit his 42nd homer and the Cardinals, after giving up five runs in the first inning, rallied to defeat the Expos at St. Louis.

Andy Benes (9-7) won for only the third time in his last 11 starts, and improved to 5-11 lifetime against Montreal.

“You try just as hard in the first inning as you do in any inning, and when you get in a hole like that it’s hard to battle out of it,” Benes said. “I give the credit to the offense.”

St. Louis Manager Tony La Russa gave credit to Benes, who gave up six hits in six innings.

“Andy hung in there and pitched outstanding after the first and we did great things at the plate today, with everybody contributing,” he said.

McGwire hit a solo home run in the third inning and later had a sacrifice fly. Since being traded from Oakland to the Cardinals on July 31, McGwire has 15 hits--eight of them homers.

Royce Clayton and Tom Pagnozzi had three hits for St. Louis. Pinch-hitter Willie McGee’s run-scoring single capped a three-run fourth that put the Cardinals ahead, 6-5.

Jose Paniagua (0-2) gave up six runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings. In 8 1/3 innings this season, he has given up 18 earned runs for a 19.44 earned-run average.

Chicago 4, Florida 3--Shawon Dunston singled home the winning run with two outs in the 10th inning to lead the Cubs at Chicago.

Mark Grace singled off Antonio Alfonseca (1-2) and took second on a passed ball with two outs. Dunston then singled to left, giving Chicago only its second victory in 11 games against Florida this season.

Sammy Sosa hit his 30th home run, his third consecutive season with as many and the fourth time in five years. He is the sixth Cub to record at least four 30-homer seasons.

Cub starter Mark Clark gave up one run and three hits in seven innings and struck out a career-high 10.

“It’s much easier to take this kind of no-decision versus pitching two or three innings and getting a loss,” said Clark, who has not had a decision in two Wrigley Field starts.

Marlin starter Kevin Brown gave up two runs on five hits in six innings.

“It looked kind of bleak after the first two at-bats against Brown,” said Dunston, who struck out twice against the Florida starter and was partly motivated by exhaustion in the 10th.

“We just had to get out of there. Gracie and I, we didn’t want to go up there [to bat] any more, to tell you the truth.”

Terry Adams (2-8), who was the losing pitcher Wednesday after a ninth-inning rally by the Marlins, got the final out of the 10th for the victory.

“It kind of evens things out,” Adams said. “On Wednesday, I felt good and came away empty-handed. Today, I felt bad. My body felt bad, everything was bad and I got the win.”

Notes

New York Met pitcher Armando Reynoso is scheduled to have season-ending arthroscopic surgery today on his right elbow and shoulder. Reynoso, 31, was 6-3 with a 4.53 earned-run average in 16 starts this season. He has been on the disabled list since July 17.

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Willie McGee St. Louis 3 for 3, RBI, run, double Win Javy Lopez Atlanta 2 for 3, 3 RBIs, home run Win Ken Caminiti San Diego 3 for 5, RBI, double Win Sammy Sosa Chicago 3 for 5, 2 runs, home run Win

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PITCHING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Denny Neagle Atlanta 7 innings, 4 hits, Win 2 runs, 18th victory Roger Clemens Toronto 9 innings, 7 hits, Win 2 runs, 7 strikeouts

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