Good, Bad Streaks End With Astros’ Loss

The Philadelphia Phillies took care of two streaks by beating the Houston Astros, 8-6, in 10 innings Wednesday night.

“We really needed this win, it was big because we’d lost [a season-high] 11 in a row,” said Doug Glanville, who had a career-high five hits to help end Houston’s team-record 12-game winning streak. “I just hit everything squarely, it was like being out of my body. It was probably the best game I’ve ever had at this level.

“I felt great about my game, but to break the streak makes it better.”

The Astros had their lead in the NL Central cut to three games by Cincinnati, which beat Chicago.

Glanville opened the 10th with a single off Doug Henry (2-3) and stole second. After a one-out walk to Bobby Abreu, Mike Lieberthal hit an RBI double and Rico Brogna added an RBI single.

The Astros scored twice in the ninth off Wayne Gomes (5-5) to tie the score.

San Diego 4, Atlanta 1--Rookie Ben Davis went four for four with a home run off John Smoltz at San Diego as the Padres helped reduce the Braves’ lead to one game over New York in the NL East.

The Braves, who have six games remaining against the Mets, lost for the third time in their last four games.

Rookie Matt Clement (9-12) pitched a solid seven innings and Wally Joyner hit a two-run homer for the Padres. Davis set a career high for hits.

Smoltz (9-8) had gone 8-0 with an earned-run average of 1.49 in 10 games against the Padres since 1993.

San Francisco 4, Florida 3--Jeff Kent and J.T. Snow hit solo homers and Russ Ortiz got his 17th win as the Giants, who have won 21 of 28, defeated the Marlins at San Francisco.

Kent and Snow each hit his 20th homer. Along with Barry Bonds (31) and Ellis Burks (28), the Giants have four players with 20 homers in a season for the first time since 1970.

Pittsburgh 5, Arizona 1--Rookie Kris Benson (11-13) won for the first time in seven starts, helping himself with a bases-loaded single as the Pirates won at Phoenix.

Brian Giles hit his 37th home run and Aramis Ramirez had a two-run triple as the Pirates snapped the Diamondbacks’ five-game winning streak.

Loser Armando Reynoso (10-5) got the start because Randy Johnson is resting a sore shoulder.

Milwaukee 10, St. Louis 8--Jose Valentin led off the 12th inning with a home run to help the Brewers beat the Cardinals at St. Louis.

Valentin, a late-inning replacement, hit his 10th homer of the season off Juan Acevedo (5-8). After a walk to Marquis Grissom, Mark Loretta doubled home another run.

The Cardinals’ Mark McGwire was sidelined again because of a groin injury, which he hurt while compensating for a stiff back. He may miss today’s game as well. Manager Tony La Russa thinks McGwire will be back Friday.