NL ROUNDUP : Big Inning Propels Hampton to 19th Win

Mike Hampton and the Houston Astros just keep on winning.

Jeff Bagwell’s 40th homer capped a nine-run sixth inning and Hampton earned his 19th victory Wednesday as Houston defeated the Philadelphia Phillies, 10-2, at Philadelphia.

The Astros’ biggest inning since 1995 helped Hampton (19-3) tie teammate Jose Lima for the NL lead in wins. Hampton has a 10-game winning streak.

“That’s the story of my whole season,” Hampton said. “It seems like everybody plays their best when I’m pitching.”

Bagwell and Daryle Ward each hit three-run homers in the sixth, which was more than enough for Hampton, who pitched seven scoreless innings and gave up five hits. He struck out seven and lowered his earned-run average to 2.82.

Curt Schilling (15-6) gave up four runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out one, his lowest total since striking out one on April 24, 1994.

Arizona 9, Milwaukee 1--Steve Finley hit three home runs--the first Diamondback player to accomplish the feat--and drove in six runs at Milwaukee.

Finley, who has 29 home runs, had the third three-homer game of his career. It also was the 15th three-homer game in the majors this season, matching the mark set in 1987 and tied in 1996.

Omar Daal (14-8) gave up one run and five hits in six innings. Hideo Nomo (11-7) gave up seven runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Cincinnati 6, Chicago 4--Greg Vaughn hit his fourth homer in two games to lead the Reds at Chicago.

Vaughn, who hit three homers in the second game of a Tuesday doubleheader, hit his 35th of the season, Cincinnati’s 22nd in the six games.

New York 7, San Francisco 5--Mike Piazza hit a three-run homer and Octavio Dotel (7-1) won his seventh consecutive decision to lead the Mets at San Franciso.

Dotel gave up one run and four hits in seven innings with nine strikeouts, and Armando Benitez got four outs for his 18th save.

Atlanta 5, St. Louis 4--Mark McGwire was held to a harmless single on the one-year anniversary of his record-breaking 62nd home run at Atlanta.

Kevin Millwood (16-7) gave up two runs and seven hits in six innings as Atlanta completed a three-game sweep. Chipper Jones hit his 39th homer, his fourth in four games, as the Braves won for the 16th time in 19 games.

Colorado 5, Montreal 1--Todd Helton homered twice to reach 30 for the first time in his career and drove in three runs at Montreal.

Larry Walker hit his 35th home run and Jamey Wright (2-2) gave up one run and four hits in seven innings.

San Diego 7, Pittsburgh 4--Wiki Gonzalez’s two-run single in the 10th inning capped the Padres’ third comeback of the game at Pittsburgh.

Trevor Hoffman (2-3) got four outs for the win for the Padres, who scored their final five runs after Pittsburgh errors.