Kendall’s Injury Hurts More Than Defeat

Losing the game meant nothing to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Losing star catcher Jason Kendall with a shattered ankle in a sickening accident that sent him into shock meant everything.

Kendall broke and dislocated his right ankle in a frightening fall at first base Sunday in the Pirates’ 4-3 loss to Milwaukee at Pittsburgh.

Kendall underwent surgery for more than an hour. A bone protruded the skin but doctors said it was a clean break that will require no rods or screws for recovery, and that he will be hospitalized for two or three days.

Kendall was trying unsuccessfully to beat out a bunt in the fifth inning when his foot awkwardly struck the side of the first base bag. Kendall is expected to be sidelined until at least spring training.

Despite the devastating injury, the Pirates rallied from a 3-0 deficit to tie the score, only to lose as Dave Nilsson and Geoff Jenkins homered and Steve Woodard pitched effectively over six innings for the Brewers.

New York 7, Atlanta 6--Edgardo Alfonzo hit a three-run homer in the seventh as the Mets salvaged the final game of a three-game series at New York.

The Braves had thrown three consecutive shutouts against the Mets before John Smoltz (8-3) gave up seven runs in 6 1/3 innings.

Dennis Cook (7-1) got pinch-hitter Gerald Williams to pop out with the bases loaded in the seventh and pitched a scoreless eighth for the win.

Florida 5, Montreal 1--Livan Hernandez stopped his four-game losing streak with relief help from Jesus Sanchez in the Marlins’ victory at Miami.

Hernandez (4-8) won for the first time in eight starts since May 21. He gave up one run and eight hits in 7 1/3 innings.

Houston 5, Cincinnati 3--Carl Everett and Derek Bell each hit home runs and Shane Reynolds withstood heat over 120 degrees on the field to become the Astros’ third double-digit winner at Cincinnati.

Reynolds (10-6) gave up three runs in 5 1/3 innings to break his three-game losing streak in Cincinnati.

Philadelphia 6, Chicago 2--Curt Schilling won his fourth consecutive start, striking out a season-high 13 over seven innings, as the Phillies completed a three-game sweep at Philadelphia.

Sammy Sosa hit his major league-leading 32nd homer for the Cubs, who have lost four in a row.

Arizona 17, St. Louis 5--David Dellucci had a career-high five runs batted in and Andy Fox drove in a career-best four at St. Louis as the Diamondbacks set a franchise record for runs. Rookie Joe McEwing extended his hitting streak to 25 games with a second-inning homer for the Cardinals.