Lima Measures Up to Big Unit for Astros

On the day before the Houston Astros officially welcomed Randy Johnson, Jose Lima made certain they didn’t forget about him.

Lima, in danger of losing his starting job to the Big Unit, pitched a five-hitter and struck out 10 as the Astros celebrated the Johnson trade by defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates, 2-1, Saturday at Pittsburgh.

The Astros, who led the NL Central even before landing Johnson in a deadline-beating trade Friday night, have won five of six. The Pirates have lost five of six.

Manager Larry Dierker, admittedly buoyed by a deal that brought the Astros one of baseball’s premier starters, said before the game that only Sean Bergman and Mike Hampton were certain of staying in the rotation.

Lima (10-6) then went out and pitched like someone who doesn’t intend to return to the bullpen, limiting the Pirates to three hits in the final seven innings. He walked one in his second consecutive complete game, having defeated Florida, 9-1, Monday.

“I showed I can be a starting pitcher,” Lima said. “I hope I sent a message. I wanted to go out and take care of business.”

But even if he is bumped from the rotation, Lima can’t help but be excited with his new teammate.

“Now we have a chance to beat the Braves and the Padres,” Lima said. “Whatever decision they make, I have to go with, but I hope they don’t make any move with me.”

It was a tough day all around for the Pirates. Not only did they learn they must unexpectedly face one of baseball’s most intimidating pitchers in Johnson today, they lost top run-producer Kevin Young to a first-inning ejection.

Young, who became angry after taking a called third strike, had to be restrained by four players and coaches after charging Brian Gibbons, one of the league’s summertime replacement umpires, and apparently grazing Gibbons on the mouth with his hand.

Atlanta 3, St. Louis 1--Keith Lockhart’s two-run single capped a three-run eighth inning against three Cardinal relievers as the Braves won at Atlanta.

Mark McGwire was hitless in four at-bats, striking out twice, to remain at 45 homers.

Chicago 3, Colorado 2--The Cubs, helped by a lucky bounce that would result in nullifying a game-tying run in the ninth inning, held off the Rockies at Chicago.

Larry Walker singled off Rod Beck with two out, and Dante Bichette followed with an apparent triple.

But Bichette’s soft liner to right skipped over the falling Sammy Sosa, and the ball rolled underneath the padding of the wall in the bullpen area. Walker already had crossed the plate when umpires ruled the play a ground-rule double, sending him back to third. Vinny Castilla followed with a game-ending line-out to Sosa, who was hitless in four at-bats to remain at 42 home runs.

San Francisco 8, Philadelphia 7--Bill Mueller’s sacrifice fly in the 10th inning gave the Giants the victory at Philadelphia.

The Phillies loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the 10th, but Rich Rodriguez got his second save by getting Kevin Sefcik to ground into a double play.

Giant starter Orel Hershiser struggled, giving up five runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Cincinnati 9, Florida 7--Eddie Taubensee’s two-run double in the 10th inning gave the Reds a victory at Miami.

John Hudek (3-5) got the victory with 1 1/3 innings in relief. Matt Mantei (3-2) lost for the second time in as many games.

Barry Larkin led off the 10th against Mantei with his third single of the game and stole second. After Sean Casey struck out, Dmitri Young was intentionally walked. Taubensee followed with a blast off the left-center field wall to score the decisive runs.

Arizona 5, Milwaukee 4--Two defensive lapses by Brewer catcher Bobby Hughes allowed the Diamondbacks to score two runs in the eighth inning at Milwaukee.

Andy Fox singled and then scored the tying run on Danny Klassen’s bunt single when Hughes failed to cover home.

After Chad Fox (0-2) walked Jay Bell, Eric Plunk relieved. Klassen, who had reached second on a wild pitch by Fox, moved to third on Devon White’s sacrifice and then scored on Hughes’ passed ball.

Bernard Gilkey, acquired Friday in the trade with the Mets, was hitless in three at-bats in his debut for the Diamondbacks.