McGwire’s 61st Can’t Stop Reds From First

The way Cincinnati is rolling, Mark McGwire could hit 70 homers in a game and the Reds would still find a way to win.

McGwire hit his 61st Monday to catch Sammy Sosa, but the Reds made another amazing comeback that will make it tough for anyone to catch them.

Dmitri Young drove in five runs, Eddie Taubensee hit an upper-deck homer and the Reds overcame a five-run deficit for a 9-7 victory at Cincinnati.

Besides pulling 1 1/2 games ahead of the New York Mets in the wild-card race, Cincinnati also pulled even with the Astros for the National League Central lead and headed to Houston for a two-game series starting today. The Astros have set up their rotation to start 20-game winners Jose Lima and Mike Hampton.

“Special things happen for special teams, and this one’s special,” said shortstop Barry Larkin, who played on the 1990 World Series championship club. “It’s a special year, no doubt.”

McGwire got the Cardinals headed to a 6-1 lead by hitting his 61st homer that pulled him even with Sosa for the major league lead. It came on the one-year anniversary of McGwire hitting Nos. 69 and 70 in Montreal.

A division championship would mean that the Reds could avoid a first-round matchup with Atlanta. The Braves won eight of nine from the Reds this season and are 29-5 against them over the last three years.

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Arizona 10, Colorado 3--Brian Anderson scattered nine hits and Bernard Gilkey drove in three runs at Phoenix as the Diamondbacks won their sixth consecutive game.

Arizona won for the eighth time in nine games and for the 17th time in its last 21.

Vinny Castilla hit his 32nd homer for the Rockies.

Montreal 8, Florida 4--Michael Barrett’s three-run double keyed a six-run eighth-inning at Montreal, giving Expo Manager Felipe Alou his 600th win.

Around the League

Berley W. Visgar, 23, was charged with disorderly conduct for jumping out of the stands at County Stadium during a Milwaukee Brewer game last week and tackling Astro right fielder Bill Spiers. . . . Florida Marlin infielder Luis Castillo underwent surgery on his left shoulder, which was dislocated earlier this month. . . . Bill Bryk, who managed Tony Gwynn in his professional debut, was hired as special assistant to General Manager Kevin Towers and will coordinate the instruction of Padre minor leaguers.

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Down to the Wire

A look at the National League wild-card race.

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W L GB xCincinnati 94 63 -- xHouston 94 63 -- New York 92 64 1 1/2

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REMAINING GAMES

CINCINNATI (5)--AWAY: Today, Wednesday, Houston; Friday through Sunday, Milwaukee.

HOUSTON (5)--HOME: Today, Wednesday, Cincinnati; Friday through Sunday, Dodgers.

NEW YORK (6)--HOME: Today through Thursday, Atlanta; Friday through Sunday, Pittsburgh.

x-Central division leaders.