Stottlemyre Double Trouble for Astros

Just when the Houston Astros were poised to make franchise history, Todd Stottlemyre and Dennis Eckersley stopped them.

The two pitchers combined on a six-hitter Monday night at Houston as the St. Louis Cardinals held on for a 2-1 victory that stopped the Astro winning streak at nine.

The Astros, comfortably in front in the National League Central, have won a team-record 10 consecutive games five times, most recently May 26-June 4, 1989.

“I’m not disappointed that the streak ended because we all knew we’d lose sometime and we’ll lose some more before it’s over,” Astro Manager Larry Dierker said. “I’ll be disappointed if this starts us going the other way.”

Stottlemyre drove in the eventual winning run with an eighth-inning double that raised his batting average to .279.

“You just swing the bat and sometimes something good happens,” he said. “When I’m able to help the club in that fashion, it’s very rewarding.”

Jeff Bagwell hit his 28th homer to lead off the ninth against Eckersley, and Sean Berry reached on a two-out error. Pinch-runner James Mouton then stole second, but Brad Ausmus grounded out to shortstop to end the game.

It was the 26th save of the season for Eckersley, who made the 1,000th appearance of his career.

“It was very significant,” Eckersley said. “I thought about it before the season began. More than anything it’s because I’ve been healthy. To pitch in 1,000 games was one thing as a reliever. But I started 400 games, that’s why I feel like I feel I’ve been so lucky.”

Montreal 3, Colorado 2--Doug Strange hit a two-run homer, Henry Rodriguez had a tie-breaking double and the Expos avoided their first six-game losing streak in almost two years by winning at Denver.

The Expos, who hadn’t lost six in a row since Aug. 19-24, 1995, also ended Colorado’s five-game winning streak.

Carlos Perez (10-6) gave up five hits over six innings, struck out two, walked one and surrendered solo home runs by Andres Galarraga and Eric Young. Perez became the first Expo starter to gain a victory since he beat Philadelphia, 5-4, on July 17.

Ugueth Urbina pitched the ninth inning and struck out two for his 18th save.

After Colorado tied the score, 2-2, on Eric Young’s two-out homer in the fifth, Montreal went back ahead in the next inning when Rondell White had a leadoff single and Rodriguez followed with a double to left field.

Cincinnati 4, Florida 0--Joe Oliver’s three-run homer broke a scoreless tie in the ninth inning and John Smiley combined with two relievers for a shutout at Miami.

The Marlins lost their third game in a row and fell into third place in the NL East. They are 8-9 since the All-Star break.

Reggie Sanders led off the ninth inning with Cincinnati’s third hit, a double against Jay Powell (1-2), and took third on a groundout. Willie Greene was intentionally walked and Oliver followed with his ninth home run.

Mike Kelly followed Oliver’s home run with a solo shot, his fifth.

Smiley and Florida’s Al Leiter dueled for 7 1/2 innings and departed for pinch hitters with the game scoreless. Stan Belinda (1-2) pitched one scoreless inning and Jeff Shaw followed with a scoreless ninth.

Smiley, who may have been making his last appearance for Cincinnati, allowed seven hits and no walks in seven innings.

The trading deadline is Thursday, and the left-hander has been the subject of recent talks with the Seattle Mariners. He has been with Cincinnati since 1993.

Philadelphia 8, San Diego 4--Rico Brogna hit a three-run homer and Ricky Otero a two-run single in the sixth inning as the Phillies rallied against the Padre bullpen to win at San Diego and keep the Padres from climbing back to .500.

Rookie Scott Rolen hit a two-run homer in the eighth, his 13th, and Otero, Kevin Stocker and Mike Lieberthal had three hits apiece as the Phillies snapped a three-game losing streak.

Leading, 3-0, Padre starter Pete Smith gave up a single to Gregg Jefferies to open the fifth inning and walked Rolen. Sean Bergman came on and gave up Brogna’s game-tying homer to right field.

Otero’s single later in the inning finished off the Padres.

Mark Leiter (6-11) won for only the second time in nine decisions, giving up three runs on four hits in five innings. He struck out five and walked four.

Sean Bergman (2-4) took the loss, giving up two hits and two runs without getting an out.

San Diego’s bullpen had an earned-run average of 1.51 and had given up only six earned runs in the previous 12 games, but gave up six earned runs Monday.

Ken Caminiti, who stayed in the game after getting hit on the knee by a ball hit by Lieberthal, hit a two-run homer in the first inning, his 11th.

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

Player: Joe Oliver

Team: Cincinnati

Performance: 3-run game-winning homer

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Kenny Lofton

Team: Atlanta

Performance: 2 for 4, triple after coming off DL

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Chipper Jones

Team: Atlanta

Performance: 3 for 4, 1 double, 1 RBI

Team’s Result: Win

PITCHING

Player: Denny Neagle

Team: Atlanta

Performance: 9 innings, 3 hits, 0 runs, 6 strikeouts, 0 walks

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: T. Stottlemyre

Team: St. Louis

Performance: 8 innings, 5 hits, 0 runs, 7 strikeouts, 1 walk

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Al Leiter

Team: Florida

Performance: 8 innings, 2 hits, 0 runs, 11 strikeouts

Team’s Result: Loss