A Tough Save for Wickman

It may have been more exciting than he would have liked, but Milwaukee closer Bob Wickman got his third save of the season, striking out Pittsburgh’s Kevin Young with the bases loaded to preserve a 4-2 Brewer victory and three-game sweep at Pittsburgh.

Wickman came in to start the ninth with a two-run lead. He gave up a single to Mike Benjamin, then walked Warren Morris. After Turner Ward sacrificed, Wickman struck out Pat Meares.

With first base open, Wickman pitched around Brian Giles before eventually walking him intentionally.

Then Wickman blew a 2-and-2 slider past Young to end it.

“I said this all spring and I’ll say it all year: I don’t care how we do it as long as we win,” Wickman said.

“I want to see the Milwaukee Brewers do well and that’s the No. 1 thing.”

Arizona 5, San Diego 3--Jay Bell’s second home run of the game, a two-run shot off Dan Miceli in the 11th inning, carried the Diamondbacks past the Padres at San Diego for their sixth victory in seven games.

Arizona starter Randy Johnson struck out 11 for his fourth consecutive game with 10 or more strikeouts, increasing his major league-leading total to 55 strikeouts.

He gave up three runs and five hits in eight innings.

Chicago 8, New York 4--Sammy Sosa hit a three-run double and scored on a wild pitch in a six-run fifth inning, leading the Cubs to a victory over the Mets on “Sammy the Bear” Beanie Baby day at Chicago.

Mike Piazza, in his first game since spraining his right knee April 9, was one for five with a run batted in.

San Francisco 7, Colorado 6--Armando Rios hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning as the Giants defeated the Rockies at San Francisco for their third victory in a row without the injured Barry Bonds.

Atlanta 5, Florida 1--John Smoltz gave up six hits in 7 2/3 innings, his longest outing of the year, and Brian Jordan drove in three runs to lead the Braves to a victory at Miami.

Cincinnati 7, Houston 6--Pokey Reese hit a tiebreaking home run in the sixth inning as the Reds defeated the Astros at Cincinnati, despite Jeff Bagwell’s first home run since hitting three Wednesday.

Philadelphia 8, Montreal 6--Pinch-hitter Alex Arias’ tiebreaking two-run single keyed a four-run rally in the ninth off closer Ugueth Urbina as the Phillies defeated the Expos at Montreal.