Abbott’s First Hit Not Enough for Brewers

Jim Abbott’s first major league hit and run batted in weren’t enough for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Mark Grace hit a go-ahead, two-run single against the one-handed pitcher in the seventh inning Tuesday night, helping the Chicago Cubs end a five-game losing streak with a 7-4 victory at Milwaukee.

“It’s very nice,” Abbott said. “We play the game for moments like that, and I’ll always remember that.”

With the score tied, 1-1, and runners on first and second in the fourth inning, Abbott (1-6) lined the first pitch from Jon Lieber just out of the reach of shortstop Jose Hernandez. Sean Berry scored from second, but Sammy Sosa threw out Geoff Jenkins at third to end the inning.

“I’m just trying to make contact when I go up there,” Abbott said. “It just seems like I’m facing tough pitchers. It’s not an easy thing to do, and I have a world of respect for major league hitters.”

Abbott, who was born without a right hand and balances the bat with his right arm, was in his 14th at-bat and 18th plate appearance of the season.

Abbott struck out in the second inning and flied to left in the sixth, leaving his season average at .067 (one for 15). He also has three sacrifices.

Abbott, who before this year played exclusively in the American League, didn’t bat in a regular-season game until joining the Brewers.

He was one for four during spring training this year and has three hits during spring training in his career.

Before 40,878, the third-largest crowd of the season at County Stadium, Milwaukee led, 4-3, in the seventh when Chicago loaded the bases on singles by Benito Santiago, pinch-hitter Jeff Blauser and Jose Hernandez, and Grace bounced a two-out single over the head of first baseman Sean Berry.

New York 11, Cincinnati 3--Rickey Henderson hit two of the Mets’ six homers at Cincinnati.

The Mets hit three homers against Brett Tomko in the first inning alone, the first time in three years they connected three times in one inning. Before they were finished, they had matched the club mark of six set against the Montreal Expos on April 4, 1988.

Atlanta 4, Houston 3--Tom Glavine won his eighth consecutive decision at the Astrodome, and Brian Hunter hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the ninth.

Jeff Bagwell hit his 22nd homer for Houston, tying Chicago’s Sammy Sosa for the National League lead. After hitting 18 of his first 20 homers on the road, Bagwell has homered in consecutive games against the Braves in the Astrodome.

Glavine (4-7), who had lost his last three decisions, gave up three runs and five hits over eight innings. He struck out eight and walked three and is 8-0 with a 1.10 ERA at the Astrodome since Sept 27, 1991.

Arizona 4, Florida 3--Brian Anderson won his first game of the season with seven shutout innings before faltering at Phoenix as the Diamondbacks improved their home record to a major league-best 22-8.

The Diamondbacks, who beat the Marlins, 2-0, Monday, ran their string of scoreless innings pitched to a club-record 22 before pinch-hitter Preston Wilson homered against Anderson (1-1) leading off the eighth.

Colorado 15, San Francisco 6--Todd Helton hit a three-run homer and Larry Walker went three for four with a solo home run for the Rockies at Denver.

Colorado third baseman Vinny Castilla did not play because of a sore back, ending his streak of consecutive games at 307, which had been the longest active streak in the majors.

Every Colorado starter except Dante Bichette had at least one hit. Even starting pitcher Brian Bohanon (8-3) had two hits and drove in two runs. He lasted five innings to set a career high for victories in a season.

St. Louis 3, Montreal 2--Orlando Cabrera’s first error in 43 games allowed the tying and go-ahead runs to score at St. Louis, and Jose Jimenez ended a seven-game losing streak.

Jimenez (3-7) gave up four hits, including Jose Vidro’s two-run homer in the second, in 7 2/3 innings.