Everett’s Hot Bat Lifts Astros, 7-4

A week ago Carl Everett was mired in a 1-for-23 slump. Now he’s the Houston Astros’ hottest batter.

Everett went four for four as the Astros beat the San Francisco Giants, 7-4, Friday night.

“He’s on fire,” said Houston Manager Larry Dierker. “A week ago he was ice cold. When he comes out of a slump, he comes out with a vengeance.”

Everett has 10 hits, including six in a row, in his last 14 at-bats. He also has seven runs batted in during the streak.

“I was never worried about it,” said Everett, who has raised his batting average to .323. “I knew I was going to be out there every day and I knew I would get my stroke back.”

Everett had three singles, a double and an RBI as the Astros won for the 11th time in 14 games.

“Tonight I went up there with a plan,” he said. “I knew I would either get a backdoor curveball or a fastball in. I guessed right and I got the hits.”

Shane Reynolds (6-2) pitched six innings for the victory, giving up four runs and four hits. He struck out seven and walked two.

“He threw the ball well,” said Giant Manager Dusty Baker. “He kept us off balance. I’ve seen him throw harder, but he mixed up his pitches. He’s one of the quality pitchers in this league.”

Billy Wagner pitched the ninth for his 11th save.

Giant starter Kirk Rueter (2-2) gave up five runs and 10 hits in five innings.

Houston rallied for three runs in the sixth inning off Rueter to erase a 4-3 deficit.

AROUND THE LEAGUE / Brantley Might Come Back

Philadelphia Phillie closer Jeff Brantley might not miss the whole season after all.

After Dr. James Andrews prescribed rehab instead of season-ending surgery on his right shoulder, Brantley has felt “fabulous” in bullpen workouts and could be activated from the disabled list as early as Sunday.

Brantley did pregame warmups and throwing and was warmed up in the bullpen during Friday’s game against the New York Mets. If all goes well, he could come off the disabled list by the end of the weekend.

If the Phillies believe he needs to throw more on the side, he will do so again Sunday and be activated Tuesday.

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The Chicago Cubs implemented tighter security measures at Wrigley Field, including restrictions on beer sales and added security personnel, in an effort to keep the fans from getting too out of hand.

The crackdown comes 10 days after the Cubs’ game against the Colorado Rockies was delayed in the eighth inning because fans, upset over an umpire’s call, pelted the field with baseballs, bottles, coins and cups of beer.

Seventy-five people were ejected, but there were no arrests.

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Mexicans will be able to vote in baseball’s All-Star balloting for the first time this year, major league officials said, in a move that could finally land the Mexican third baseman Vinny Castilla of the Colorado Rockies on the National League’s starting team.

Five million ballots will be sent to Mexico, in addition to 70 million in the United States, two million in Canada and one million in Puerto Rico. Castilla is the only Mexican player on the ballot.