Boone Torments the Reds

With three perfect swings, Bret Boone left his former team in misery.

Boone hit three homers--each off a different pitcher--and Ruben Rivera added a three-run shot in the 10th inning as the San Diego Padres overpowered the reeling Cincinnati Reds, 10-7, Friday night at Cincinnati.

Boone matched his career high by driving in six runs and got the ultimate sign of respect--an intentional walk in the 10th--just ahead of Rivera’s homer off Scott Williamson (2-5).

“I’m not going to lie. Any time you do it against your old team, it’s a little extra special,” said Boone, traded to Atlanta after the 1998 season. “Nights like this don’t come that often.”

Games like this come just about every day for the Reds, who have lost 13 of their last 16. Not even a three-run rally in the ninth off Trevor Hoffman (1-2) could get them out of their rut.

“It was a good ballgame for the fans, but a tough one for us,” Manager Jack McKeon said. “We couldn’t keep the ball in the park.”

The Padres scored all 10 runs off five homers--three by Boone, one each by Ryan Klesko and Rivera--as they beat the Reds for the fourth time in eight days.

Arizona 2, Colorado 0--Brian Anderson gave up two hits over eight innings and Danny Bautista hit a solo home run at Phoenix.

The NL West-leading Diamondbacks won for the third time in four games and moved two games ahead of the Rockies, who have lost three of four since moving into a first-place tie June 18.

Anderson (7-2), who had given up at least seven earned runs in two of his last three starts, allowed only singles by Jeffrey Hammonds and Larry Walker.

Byung-Hyun Kim struck out the side in the ninth for his 10th save in 12 chances.

San Francisco 10, Houston 3--In only 35 games at Houston’s Enron Field, more home runs were hit than all of last season at the Astrodome.

Barry Bonds, Marvin Benard and Bobby Estalella homered in the first six innings of the Giants’ rout.

Throw in Chris Truby’s ninth-inning homer off Alan Embree, the first of his career, and there have been 120 long balls at Enron, two more than were hit last year at the Astrodome, Houston’s home park from 1965-99.

Jose Lima (1-11) lost his 11th straight decision since starting the season with a win April 5 at Pittsburgh. Lima tied the Astro record for consecutive losses, set by Dick Drott from May 26 to Sept. 4, 1963.

Atlanta 3, Milwaukee 2--John Rocker bounced back from an awful outing to strike out the side in the ninth inning at Atlanta.

Rocker got his second save since May 18, his 12th in 13 chances this season.

He relieved to start the ninth and struck out James Mouton leading off, then walked Jose Hernandez, Rocker’s 31st walk in 21 innings. He then fanned Henry Blanco and Lyle Mouton, raising his season strikeout total to 33.

New York 12, Pittsburgh 2--Mike Piazza’s three-run homer triggered a nine-run third inning that carried the Mets and right-hander Bobby Jones to a win at New York.

Philadelphia 13, Montreal 6--Mike Lieberthal and Mickey Morandini each fell a hit short of the cycle and Scott Rolen had a three-run homer at Montreal.

Lieberthal had a home run, double and single and scored four runs, while Morandini had a single, double and triple with three RBIs to lead the Phillies’ 17-hit barrage against five Expo pitchers.

Florida 6, Chicago 1--Mike Lowell’s two-run home run highlighted a four-run fifth inning at Miami.