Gant Makes Game-Winning Decision

Ron Gant was supposed to advance the runners with a bunt. Instead, he cleared the bases with a home run.

Gant hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning Saturday night, rallying the St. Louis Cardinals past the San Francisco Giants, 8-7, at St. Louis.

San Francisco scored once in the ninth off stopper Dennis Eckersley, but the Giants lost for the seventh time in 10 games since the All-Star break.

After Royce Clayton led off the eighth by reaching first on shortstop Jose Vizcaino’s error, Delino DeShields walked.

St. Louis Manager Tony La Russa gave the bunt sign, but Gant pulled back and took a strike. La Russa switched signals, and Gant connected later in the at-bat against Doug Henry for his 14th homer, his second in two days.

“If there are runners on again and Tony gives me a bunt sign, I think I’ll always take it,” Gant said.

John Frascatore (4-2) pitched one inning for the victory. Eckersley earned his 23rd save.

Pat Rapp, traded from Florida to the Giants on Friday, struck out eight in five-plus innings. He gave up three runs and seven hits and walked four.

Rapp was drafted by the Giants in 1989, made his major league debut with them in 1992 and was later picked by the Marlins in the expansion draft.

Chicago 7-6, Colorado 0-5--Mark Grace hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the eighth inning of the second game as the Cubs swept a doubleheader at Wrigley Field and sent the Rockies to their eighth loss in a row.

In the first game, Steve Trachsel pitched seven shutout innings to win for the first time since June 14.

In the second game, the Cubs pushed across the go-ahead run with the aid of a throwing error by first baseman Andres Galarraga. The loss was the Rockies’ 15th in 16 games.

Larry Walker of the Rockies went hitless in nine at-bats during the doubleheader, and his average dropped from .402 to .392.

Florida 8, San Diego 5--Charles Johnson had the first two-homer game of his four-year career and rookie Livan Hernandez gave up one hit in six innings at Miami.

Florida led, 4-0, before Danny Jackson (2-8) retired a batter.

Johnson hit a two-run home run in the third and added a solo home run in the seventh, giving him nine for the season. He also doubled, going 3 for 4 to raise his average to .255. Last season Johnson batted only .218.

Hernandez (3-0), a 22-year-old Cuban defector who received a $2.5-million bonus when he signed last year, made the best start of his brief career.

Hernandez outhit the Padres before departing with a 7-0 lead. He hit a 400-foot double leading off the fourth but was thrown out trying for a triple, then singled in the sixth and scored on a bases-loaded double play.

The only hit he gave up was a one-out single by Quilvio Veras in the fourth.

Houston 8, Montreal 6--Jeff Bagwell and Tim Bogar each hit home runs and the Astros stole seven bases at Montreal.

Houston won for the ninth time in 12 games. The Expos got one run in the ninth and had the bases loaded with one out, but did not score again against Billy Wagner.

The Astros’ seven steals equal the high in the majors this season and were one short of the team record set in 1990. Craig Biggio and Chuckie Carr each stole two bases.

Shane Reynolds (5-6) made his second start since coming off the disabled list on Monday. He gave up three runs in five innings and won for the first time in 10 starts.

Pittsburgh 13, Philadelphia 3--Dale Sveum homered and drove in three runs and the Pirates had a season-high 17 hits 17-hit attack to snap a three-game losing streak at Philadelphia.

The first seven hitters in Pittsburgh’s lineup each had at least two hits. Kevin Young also drove in three runs.

Sveum’s two-run homer started a five-run fourth off Philadelphia starting pitcher Tyler Green (0-1).

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Charles Johnson Florida 3 for 4, two runs, two home runs, 3 RBIs Win Jeff Bagwell Houston 3 for 4, 3 runs, home run, 2 RBIs Win

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PITCHING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Pedro Astacio Dodgers 7 1/3 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 6 strikeouts Win Livan Hernandez Florida 6 innings, 1 hit, no runs, 4 strikeouts Win Steve Trachsel Chicago 7 innings, 4 hits, no runs, 8 strikeouts Win Rick Reed New York 8 innings, 6 hits, 2 runs, 7 strikeouts Win

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