Hershiser Sharp Enough, Wins Fifth in Row

Orel Hershiser’s fifth consecutive win almost didn’t happen.

“Today I was a time-bomb ready to go off,” said Hershiser, who didn’t feel as if he was going to emerge with a win--but did--as the San Francisco Giants defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks, 4-1, Saturday at San Francisco. “I really wasn’t very efficient out there.”

Hershiser (5-3), who lost his first three decisions of the season, went six innings, allowing one unearned run and two hits, with six strikeouts and five walks. He has not lost since April 30 against Atlanta.

Said Arizona shortstop Jay Bell about Hershiser, “He moved the ball around and he changed speed on all his pitches. He doesn’t have his old velocity, but he’s got a really good idea about how to pitch.”

Hershiser also got a hit to lead off the sixth inning, which got a rally going to put the Giants ahead 2-1. The single extended his hitting streak to three games.

Robb Nen pitched the ninth for his 14th save.

Omar Daal (1-3) allowed two runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings in taking the loss.

After Hershiser’s single to start the sixth, he went to third on Stan Javier’s single, and scored on Bill Mueller’s sacrifice fly to make it 1-1. Barry Bonds’ single scored Javier with the go-ahead run.

It was the fifth time in his career that Hershiser, 39, has won five in a row. It also was his 184th career win, moving him into a tie for fifth among active pitchers with Baltimore’s Jimmy Key.

Colorado 6, Houston 3--Larry Walker hit a two-run homer to support John Thomson’s solid pitching at Denver, and the Rockies ended a losing streak at three games.

Thomson (4-5) went 6 2/3 innings, yielding six hits and three runs, to earn his first win at Coors Field since last Aug. 27--a span of seven starts.

Thomson carried a 6-1 lead into the sixth, when Jeff Bagwell, in his second game back from the disabled list, hit a 444-foot, two-run homer.

Colorado built an early 5-1 lead against Pete Schourek (2-3), who lasted only two innings. In defeating Schourek, the Rockies ended a streak of losses at 10 games to left-handed starters.

Jerry DiPoto pitched the ninth for his 12th save.

The Rockies, who had only 22 stolen bases coming into the game, had four in the second inning, including two double steals. Todd Helton stole home on one of the double steals.

Chicago 9, Atlanta 8--Cub closer Rod Beck provided late-inning drama for the second consecutive game at Chicago.

Atlanta scored four runs in the ninth--with Beck allowing two of the runs on an RBI single to Tony Graffinino, a walk to Chipper Jones and a sacrifice fly by Andres Galarraga before being replaced by Bob Patterson. Ryan Klesko to hit a soft liner to former Brave shortstop Jeff Blauser, who doubled Graffinino off at second base to end the game.

Beck had given up a game-tying ninth-inning run Friday in the Cubs’ 5-3 victory over the Braves in 11 innings.

Steve Trachsel (6-1) won his fourth straight decision, giving up four runs on six hits and three walks in six innings. He improved to 5-0 in seven starts at Wrigley Field this season.

The Braves have lost three in a row for the first time this season.

New York 6, Philadelphia 4--Al Leiter struck out a season-high 10 batters and Carlos Baerga, Bernard Gilkey and Butch Huskey homered at Philadelphia as the Mets increased their win streak to eight games.

Leiter (5-3) limited the Phillies to six hits and three runs in seven innings, while walking two. Leiter, one strikeout short of his career high, lowered his major league-leading ERA to 1.74.

John Franco pitched the ninth for his 11th save of the season.

Both Baerga and Gilkey have been hot for the Mets, who have also won 10 of their last 11. Baerga is hitting .444 (16 for 36) with four homers, three doubles and 11 RBIs in his last nine games, while Gilkey has a six-game hitting streak in which he’s batting .520 (13 for 25).

Pittsburgh 8, Montreal 7--The Pirates had their first ninth-inning rally of the season in beating the Expos at Pittsburgh.

Montreal right fielder Vladimir Guerrero threw the ball away on Jason Kendall’s bases-loaded single in the ninth, a three-run play that capped the Pirates’ comeback against Expo closer Ugueth Urbina (3-2).

Rookie Brad Fullmer had a grand slam and five RBIs for Montreal.

Milwaukee 12, Florida 4--It took him 15 attempts, but Cal Eldred finally got his first victory over a National League team as the Brewers won at Milwaukee.

Eldred, Milwaukee’s No. 1 starter, ended a career-worst six-game losing streak that dated to last season in leading the Brewers to their fourth consecutive victory.

Eldred (1-4), who gave up two unearned runs on four hits in five-plus innings, was winless in three interleague starts last season and in his first 11 starts this season after the Brewers switched leagues to accommodate the expansion teams.