Reds Set Record With Nine Homers

After a three-game losing streak pushed them 2 1/2 games behind Houston in the National League Central, the Cincinnati Reds took out their frustrations on the Philadelphia Phillies in record fashion Saturday night.

The Reds set a league record by hitting nine home runs at Philadelphia, as they routed the Phillies, 22-3.

Eddie Taubensee had two homers, Greg Vaughn hit his 30th homer and Jeffrey Hammonds hit a solo shot into the left-field upper deck. Aaron Boone, Dmitri Young, Pokey Reese, Brian Johnson and Mark Lewis also homered, Lewis hitting the record-breaker, a three-run shot against Amaury Telemaco in the eighth inning.

Toronto holds the major league record with 10 homers against Baltimore on Sept. 14, 1987.

“I’ve never seen so many homers in a game,” Cincinnati Manager Jack McKeon said. “Both third basemen, both catchers, all the starting outfielders.”

It was the Reds’ most runs since a 24-12 victory at Colorado on May 19, and the nine homers and 22 runs were the most by an opponent in Veterans Stadium since it opened in 1971.

New York 4, Colorado 2--Al Leiter gave up 11 hits in 8 2/3 innings but worked around it for his first victory since Aug. 12 as the Mets won at Denver and moved to within 3 1/2 games of Atlanta in the National League East. Before the game, the Mets activated pitchers John Franco and Rick Reed from the disabled list.

Houston 5, Montreal 2--Jeff Bagwell scored the go-ahead run on Ugueth Urbina’s wild pitch in the 10th inning and Derek Bell followed with a two-run homer at Montreal.

Bagwell hit a two-out double against Urbina (6-6), broke for third on Urbina’s 3-1 pitch to Russ Johnson and rounded third as the pitch got away from catcher Chris Widger. Widger threw to Urbina, who couldn’t handle the ball as he blocked the plate.

Arizona 5, Atlanta 4--Erubiel Durazo of the Diamondbacks homered twice, including a go-ahead, two-run drive against John Smoltz during a three-run sixth inning at Atlanta.

Durazo hit a solo homer in the fourth that pulled Arizona to within 3-2, then turned a 4-3 deficit into a 5-4 lead with his eighth homer in 88 at-bats since being called up from the minors July 25.

Milwaukee 4, St. Louis 2--Bill Pulsipher gave up only two unearned runs in seven innings and combined with two relievers on a three-hitter at Milwaukee.

San Francisco 9, Pittsburgh 2--Russ Ortiz shut out the Pirates on two hits over six innings at Pittsburgh and the Giants won their eighth in a row to remain five games behind the National League West-leading Diamondbacks.

Florida 6, San Diego 4--Alex Fernandez hit his third home run of the season, a Marlin record for pitchers, and gave up only two hits and struck out seven in 7 1/3 innings at Miami.