Smoltz Returns to Lead Braves, 7-2

John Smoltz returned from the 15-day disabled list and pitched six scoreless innings Tuesday night, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 7-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Atlanta.

Smoltz (6-1), activated earlier in the day after being sidelined because of an inflamed right elbow, gave up four hits. He walked none and struck out five.

He lowered his earned-run average to 2.34, second in the National League to the Chicago Cubs’ Kevin Tapani (2.30). He also hit a double and a run-scoring single.

Manager Bobby Cox lifted Smoltz as a precaution after the right-hander threw only 79 pitches, leaving with a 4-0 lead.

“I was very pleased to find out for myself that I could stay under control and throw all my pitches,” Smoltz said.

He also didn’t forget how to hit, going two for three, scoring a run and driving in another.

“I just tried to tell myself to see the ball and hit it,” said Smoltz, who is hitting .364. “I’ve got a lot of confidence in that area too. That’s what happens when you get some hits, and it really helped us win the game.”

The Rockies, 3-6 during a 10-game trip that ends today, made four errors that led to three unearned runs. Colorado pitchers walked 11 and hit a batter.

St. Louis 8, Florida 4--Mark McGwire hit a two-run double and foiled a four-outfielder alignment at Miami with his 16th homer.

Ray Lankford drove in three runs with a single and a two-run homer, his 10th. The Marlins lost their fourth in a row.

McGwire’s home run easily cleared the left-field scoreboard in the fifth inning as four outfielders watched. The alignment had second baseman Luis Castillo in the right-field corner.

Florida used a traditional defense in the sixth, when McGwire lined a two-run double to chase Livan Hernandez (3-5).

McGwire has eight homers in his past 12 games, and seven homers in his eight games at Pro Player Stadium.

Montreal 10, Arizona 8--Shane Andrews, activated from the 15-day disabled list before the game, homered twice, doubled and drove in five runs at Montreal as the Expos ended the Diamondbacks’ seven-game winning streak.

Steve Finley hit two homers and drove in six runs for Arizona.

Andrews, who had sat out 18 games because of a bulging disk in his lower back, matched a career high for RBIs as the Expos overcame a 7-2 deficit.

San Francisco 6, Philadelphia 5--Wayne Gomes walked Bill Mueller to force in the winning run in the 12th inning at Philadelphia as the Giants got revenge against the Phillie closer, gave Manager Dusty Baker his 500th victory and ended their five-game losing streak.

Armando Rios led off the 12th with a single against Gomes (1-1), who angered the Giants by celebrating a key strikeout Monday in the Phillies’ 4-3 victory. Scott Servais sacrificed Rios to second, and Gomes hit Wilson Delgado.

As the game passed the four-hour mark, Gomes walked Marvin Benard on four pitches to load the bases and did the same to Mueller, sending Rios home.

Houston 3, Milwaukee 0--Sean Bergman pitched a rain-shortened six-hitter at Milwaukee for his first shutout in four seasons.

Tim Bogar doubled home two runs as the Astros ended a four-game losing streak in a game that was called in the eighth inning.

Cincinnati 4, New York 0--Pete Harnisch extended his shutout string to 16 innings, combining with Scott Sullivan on a seven-hitter at New York as the Reds won their fourth in a row.

Harnisch (5-5) improved to 6-2 against his former team, giving up six hits in seven innings with five strikeouts and three walks.

San Diego 1, Chicago 0--John Vander Wal homered and Andy Ashby made it stand up at Chicago in a game called in the top of the sixth inning because of rain.