Garcia, Wagner Too Much for Expos

Ramon Garcia pitched eight scoreless innings to defeat Pedro Martinez on Friday night, leading the Houston Astros to a 2-0 victory over the Montreal Expos at Montreal.

Garcia (4-7), who joined the Astro rotation June 17 when Shane Reynolds was put on the disabled list, scattered six hits, struck out six and walked two before leaving for a pinch-hitter.

Luis Gonzalez had three hits for the Astros, who won for the eighth time in 11 games.

Billy Wagner gave up a one-out walk and hit a batter in the ninth before retiring Doug Strange on a pop fly and striking out pinch-hitter Chris Widger for his 16th save.

The Expos threatened in the fifth, but Garcia got Rondell White to ground into a double play, escaping a two-on, one-out jam.

Mike Lansing had two hits for the Expos, who lost for the ninth time in 16 games.

Martinez (11-5) gave up two runs and seven hits in seven innings and saw his NL-leading earned-run average rise slightly from 1.62 to 1.67. The right-hander struck out nine.

Gonzalez hit his second double of the game with one out in the Astro fourth and scored after Martinez issued consecutive walks to Derek Bell, Ricky Gutierrez and Brad Ausmus.

Jeff Bagwell hit an RBI single in the Astro fifth to make the score 2-0.

Martinez is 3-5 in his last 10 starts, getting an average of only 1.8 runs per outing.

San Diego 5, Florida 3--Armando Romero, a 10-year minor leaguer brought up this week, homered in his first start to help the Padres win at Miami.

In winning, San Diego overcame Edgar Renteria’s two solo home runs. Renteria had his third consecutive three-hit day, but struck out with runners on first and second to end the game.

Romero, 29, was promoted Sunday from triple-A Las Vegas after backup catcher Carlos Hernandez was put on the disabled list. The switch-hitter went two for four and scored twice against the Marlins.

Romero was hitless in his only at-bat this week before singling during a four-run third inning. He homered in the fourth for a 5-0 lead.

Marlin Manager Jim Leyland injured his right ankle and right knee when he fell in the bathroom near the dugout in the sixth inning. Leyland said his cleats slipped, and he will have an MRI today. Leyland had to be helped from the dugout, and returned in the seventh.

The Padres won for the sixth time in seven games despite three home runs by the Marlins.

Renteria connected in the fourth against Pete Smith (3-1), and homered again in the eighth off Jim Bruske. It was the first multihomer game for Renteria, who began the night with only one home run in 364 at-bats.

Jim Eisenreich homered later in the eighth off Bruske, making the score 5-3.

Smith won in his second start of the season, giving up six hits and striking out six in five innings. Since his last start on June 28, he had compiled a 15.00 ERA in five relief stints.

St. Louis 6, San Francisco 5--Stan Javier, forced to make a rare start at first base after J.T. Snow accidentally scratched his eye, made a wild throw that helped the Cardinals win at home.

Ron Gant homered as the Cardinals beat Shawn Estes (12-4) and ended a six-game home losing streak.

Snow scratched his left cornea before the game when he scraped it while gesturing during a conversation, and was listed as day-to-day.

Javier, usually an outfielder, made his third start at first base and it cost the Giants in the third inning.

The score was tied, 1-1, when Gary Gaetti walked and John Mabry doubled. A walk to Dmitri Young loaded the bases, and Tom Lampkin drove in a run with an infield single.

Pitcher Todd Stottlemyre grounded sharply to Javier, who stepped on first base. But Javier threw wildly to the plate, allowing Mabry and Young to score. Royce Clayton added a sacrifice fly for a 5-1 lead.

Philadelphia 8, Pittsburgh 6--Mickey Morandini’s three-run double capped an eight-run sixth inning that rallied the Phillies before a home crowd.

Mark Leiter (5-10) struck out a season-high nine and gave up six hits and three runs in six innings for his first win since May 20. He had lost six consecutive decisions since then. Ricky Bottalico pitched the final two innings for his 16th save.

An error by left fielder Al Martin and the bullpen’s inability to throw strikes proved costly to Pittsburgh in the sixth, when the Phillies tied their season high for runs in an inning.

Colorado at Chicago--Friday’s game was postponed by rain and will be made up today as part of a doubleheader at Wrigley Field.

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result A. Romero San Diego 10-year minor leaguer hits first homer Win M. Morandini Philadelphia 3 for 5, 3 RBIs, 2 doubles Win Edgar Renteria Florida 3 for 5, 2 home runs Loss

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PITCHING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Ramon Garcia Houston 8 innings, 0 runs, 6 strikeouts Win Denny Neagle Atlanta 8 innings, 1 run, 7 strikeouts Win Mark Leiter Philadelphia 6 innings, 9 strikeouts, no walks Win

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