Brewers Take Victory on National Tour

L.A. Times Archives

April 3, 1998 12 AM PT

<i> From Associated Press</i>

After going 33 years since its last National League victory, the city of Milwaukee had to wait a couple of more innings Thursday night.

The Brewers squandered a two-run lead in the ninth but Jeromy Burnitz hit a grand slam in the 11th, his second homer of the game, and Milwaukee held on to beat the Atlanta Braves, 8-6, at Atlanta.

It was the first NL victory for the Brewers, formerly of the American League and the first team to switch leagues this century. They beat the franchise that left Milwaukee after the 1965 season, ending the city’s 13-year run in the NL.

“It had been a long night. I was ready to get out of here,” Burnitz said. “I hope all our National League games aren’t this tough.”

Burnitz’s game-winning drive off Brian Edmondson, the seventh Atlanta pitcher, came one pitch after shortstop Rafael Belliard booted a grounder that could have been turned into an inning-ending double play.

“It took a bad hop, came up and hit me on the heel of the glove,” said Belliard, a .221 career hitter who has managed to remain with the Braves for eight seasons because of stellar defensive skills.

Gerald Williams hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the 11th for the Braves, who put the tying run at the plate before Andruw Jones struck out against Al Reyes for the final out.

Brewer closer Doug Jones, who blew only two of 38 save chances in ‘97, squandered a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the ninth. Andres Galarraga led off with his first homer for the Braves and Javy Lopez hit a drive into the left-field seats two pitches later.

Colorado 6, Arizona 4--Dante Bichette hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the sixth inning, and the Rockies opened the season with a three-game sweep of the expansion Diamondbacks at Phoenix.

Ellis Burks and Greg Colbrunn also homered for the Rockies, who outscored Arizona, 21-6, in the series and outhit the Diamondbacks, 38-20.

Pedro Astacio improved to 6-1 since the Rockies acquired him from the Dodgers on Aug. 18 but was hit hard, giving up four runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Matt Williams homered and drove in three runs, Jay Bell hit a solo homer and Tony Batista had three hits.

Brian Anderson, taken from Cleveland in the expansion draft, gave up six hits in six innings but three of them were homers.

San Francisco 9, Houston 2--Stan Javier had four hits and drove in a career-high five runs at Houston.

Javier had a two-run single in the third and run-scoring hits in the fifth, sixth and eighth innings. San Francisco had 16 hits, including seven doubles and a triple.

Kirk Rueter won despite walking the bases loaded twice. He gave up two runs and three hits in five innings, walked six and struck out three. Steve Reed and Russell Ortiz completed the three-hitter.

John Halama, making his major league debut, gave up six runs and nine hits in four innings.

Philadelphia 6, New York 5--Mark Portugal got his first victory since 1996 and the Phillies, despite Gregg Jefferies losing a home run on a rare umpire’s reversal, held off the Mets at New York.

The Phillies also spoiled Al Leiter’s debut with the Mets. He was long gone when his brother, Mark, relieved for the Phillies--it was the first time they pitched in the same major league game.

Rich Becker’s three-run homer off Ricky Bottalico pulled the Mets to 6-5 in the ninth inning. But Bottalico settled down and got three outs for a save.

Portugal (1-0) pitched five innings before leaving because of an inflamed knee, a problem that will require an MRI in Philadelphia today.

In the fifth inning, Jefferies hit a drive that hooked as it approached the left-field foul pole. Crew chief Ed Montague took his time making the call and casually signaled fair, bringing an immediate argument from several Met players and Manager Bobby Valentine.

The four umpires huddled before Montague pointed foul. Phillie Manager Terry Francona briefly discussed the call without getting too upset--replays showed the ball was indeed foul.

Jefferies returned to the plate and got an infield hit.

Chicago 8, Florida 7--Jeff Blauser’s run-scoring single capped a two-out rally in the ninth inning and the Cubs overcame an early six-run deficit at Miami.

With the score tied in the ninth, Jay Powell hit Mark Grace with a pitch and pinch-hitter Jose Hernandez singled. Blauser then singled to left field, easily scoring Grace.

Rod Beck allowed the first two Marlins to reach in the ninth, but following a sacrifice, Charles Johnson and Craig Counsell struck out. Beck got his 200th save, a milestone reached by 20 other pitchers.

Pittsburgh 4, Montreal 3--Tony Womack hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the seventh inning at Montreal as the Pirates overcame Vladimir Guerrero’s first two-homer game.

Guerrero, limited to 90 games last season because of injuries, hit two-out solo homers in the third and fifth innings off Jason Schmidt.

With Montreal ahead, 3-1, in the seventh, Jose Guillen, Lou Collier and Turner Ward singled off Mike Maddux to pull Pittsburgh within a run.

Rick DeHart relieved and Womack followed a single to left through a drawn-in infield.

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

* Mark McGwire, St. Louis

2 for 4, 3 RBIs, 1 home run. Two games, two home runs.

* Vladimir Guerrero, Montreal

First career two-homer game in loss to Pittsburgh.

* Tyler Houston, Chicago

2 for 4, 4 RBIs, 1 home run in 8-7 victory over Florida.