Three-Way Tie As Giants Win

The streaking San Francisco Giants pulled into a three-way tie for the National League wild-card lead Friday night, beating the Colorado Rockies, 8-6, at Denver.

The Giants (88-72) tied the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets, both of whom lost Friday night, with two games left in the season.

The Giants, five games behind the Cubs in the wild-card chase only eight days ago, won their fifth in a row and eighth in nine games.

Rich Aurilia went four for five with two runs batted in. San Francisco had 15 hits, only one for extra bases, and drew eight walks.

Earlier, the Mets lost to the Atlanta Braves, 6-5, at Atlanta even though the Braves started a 21-year-old rookie, Bruce Chen, while setting up their pitching plans for the postseason.

Chen, making only his fourth major league appearance, failed to get through the fifth inning. The Mets twice left the bases loaded and stranded 12 runners overall.

“We had a lot of chances,” Met right fielder Butch Huskey said. “We just didn’t hit in scoring position.”

Cincinnati 4, Pittsburgh 1--Bret Boone and Brook Fordyce homered and Jason Bere pitched into the eighth inning at Cincinnati as the Reds extended the Pirates’ late-season swoon.

Bere (3-2) gave up five hits in 7 1/3 innings, sending the Pirates to their 23rd loss in 28 games.

Arizona 6, San Diego 3--Yamil Benitez hit a three-run, pinch-hit home run with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Diamondbacks the victory at Phoenix.

Philadelphia vs. Florida--As a result of Hurricane Georges, the Phillies and Marlins will end the season with back-to-back doubleheaders at Miami--weather permitting. They were forced to postpone their game for the second consecutive night Friday.