Trachsel’s Performance Wasted by Bullpen

For eight innings, Steve Trachsel was nearly unhittable at Milwaukee on Saturday. But the ninth was a different story.

Trachsel took a two-hitter and a 4-0 lead into the ninth. But Geoff Jenkins’ two-out, run-scoring double capped a five-run comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning and rallied the Brewers over the Chicago Cubs, 5-4.

After Fernando Vina led off the ninth with a bunt single and Jeff Cirillo singled with one out, Terry Mulholland relieved Trachsel.

“Trachsel threw a great game today,” Jenkins said. “We were just hoping we could get a few hits and get him out of there and hopefully get a shot at someone else.”

Jeromy Burnitz hit a long fly that caromed off center fielder Lance Johnson’s glove and glanced off the railing on top of the fence for a single that loaded the bases.

Rod Beck took over and Sean Berry met him with a two-run double to make it 4-2. Dave Nilsson followed with a two-run single that tied the score at 4.

With two out, Jenkins drove an 0-and-1 pitch the opposite way to left-center, scoring pinch-runner Lou Collier from first base.

“With Berry, I’m behind in the count,” said Beck, who blew his first save in three chances. “At that point, I’m going after him. He hit the ball down the line and now we’re in trouble. I have to really go to work and I just didn’t get the job done.”

Mike Myers pitched the ninth for the victory.

Trachsel began the game with an 8.18 earned-run average, having given up 10 earned runs in 14 innings in two starts.

Trying for his first shutout since 1996, he struck out five and walked one.

“He was outstanding,” Cub Manager Jim Riggleman said. “He was like he can be. He was very sharp and seemed to have it all working and just did a great job.”

St. Louis 8, Houston 5--Jose Jimenez pitched shutout ball into the eighth and J.D. Drew hit a three-run triple as the Cardinals defeated the Astros at Houston for their fourth consecutive victory.

The Cardinals scored seven runs in the eighth inning, including Drew’s triple, Edgar Renteria’s two-run single and run-scoring singles by Willie McGee and Albert Castillo.

Jimenez left with an 8-0 lead after giving up a two-run double to Derek Bell and a run-scoring single to Jeff Bagwell in the eighth.

Jimenez gave up eight hits, struck out seven and did not walk anybody.

The Astros added two runs in the ninth off Juan Acevedo, who gave up a run-scoring single to Ricky Gutierrez and a run-scoring, double-play groundout by Richard Hidalgo.

Mark McGwire, who has four homers, went 0 for 3 with two walks and a strikeout. He hasn’t homered since hitting two against Pittsburgh’s Pete Schourek on Wednesday.

Philadelphia 2, Florida 1--Doug Glanville singled home the winning run with one out in the bottom of the ninth and the Phillies defeated the Marlins at Philadelphia.

Bobby Abreu opened the ninth with a single off reliever Antonio Alfonseca, stole second and advanced to third on Desi Relaford’s sacrifice.

After Alfonseca hit Mike Lieberthal with a pitch and intentionally walked pinch-hitter Kevin Jordan to load the bases, Glanville lined an 0-and-2 pitch into left field.

Wayne Gomes got the victory.

The Marlins tied the score, 1-1, in the eighth on Todd Dunwoody’s two-out single off Gomes.

San Francisco 8, Arizona 5--Ellis Burks hit a three-run double, and Rich Aurilia and Scott Servais hit two-run homers as the Giants defeated the Diamondbacks at Phoenix.

The Giants wasted little time in getting to Andy Benes, scoring four times in the first inning.

Kirk Rueter gave up three runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Benes gave up eight runs and six hits and four walks. The three-inning stint matched his shortest for the Diamondbacks.

Pittsburgh 7, Cincinnati 6--Warren Morris hit the game-winning single in the 10th inning to lift the Pirates to a victory over the Reds at Cincinnati.

Abraham Nunez and Turner Ward started the inning with consecutive singles. Nunez moved to third when Jason Kendall flied out and scored on Morris’ base hit to right.

Jason Christiansen closed with two scoreless innings for the victory, as the Pirates ended a three-game losing streak and won for the first time on the road.

New York 3, Montreal 2--Bobby Jones survived a shaky first three innings to win his third start in a row and Bobby Bonilla drove in the go-ahead run with an infield grounder as the Mets rallied past the Expos at New York.

Jones struck out seven in seven innings, becoming the second three-game winner in the major leagues following Philadelphia’s Curt Schilling. Last year, Jones didn’t get a win until his fourth start.

He started slowly, escaping a two-on jam in the first, allowing a pair of runs in the second and getting out of a second-and-third, one-out jam in the third when Brad Fullmer popped out and Shane Andrews grounded out.

That started a string in which Jones retired 14 of his final 15 batters. Jones wound up giving up seven hits and walking none.