Rocker Earns First Victory Since August

Relief pitcher John Rocker didn’t have much to say Sunday after earning the win in the Atlanta Braves’ 5-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers at Atlanta.

It was Rocker’s first win since Aug. 22.

“Like I told you in the clubhouse, ‘No.’ No means no,” Rocker told reporters after signing autographs and posing for pictures. “This is family time. I pitched OK and I’m happy I contributed to a Braves’ victory. What more is there to say?”

Rocker (1-0) got the win when Brewer reliever Curtis Leskanic (0-2) walked four in the ninth inning. Chipper Jones walked on a 3-and-1 pitch, allowing Walt Weiss to score the winning run.

Rocker, who has struggled with his control all season, replaced Kevin Millwood with two out in the eighth and pitched 1 1/3 innings, walking two and striking out two. He threw only 11 of 21 pitches for strikes.

Rocker was sent to the minor leagues June 5-14 because of his lack of control. He has 33 walks in 22 1/3 innings this season, and eight in four innings since his recall from triple-A Richmond.

“It’s been a tough road for everybody,” Jake Rocker, the pitcher’s father, said while waiting for his son to come out of the clubhouse. “But John’s a fighter. He’s staying with it. He’ll never give up.”

Millwood tied a career-high with 13 strikeouts.

Brewer pitchers issued 12 walks.

San Francisco 4, Houston 2--Russ Ortiz struck out a career-high 12 and won for the first time since May 21, helping the Giants complete a three-game sweep at Houston.

“He was a lot more aggressive,” Giant Manager Dusty Baker said. “That’s the Russ that we know.”

Ortiz (4-7)--winless in his previous five starts--gave up two runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings. Robb Nen pitched the ninth for his 12th save in 16 chances, retiring Jeff Bagwell on a game-ending grounder with runners at first and third.

Marvin Benard went four for five and Felipe Crespo had three hits, including a two-run single during a four-run third inning. The Giants had 14 hits--a day after getting 22 in a 13-4 victory.

The Astros, swept at home for the second time this season, turned six double plays, one short of the major league record. The teams combined for eight double plays, one shy of the National League record for a nine-inning game.

San Diego 5, Cincinnati 4--Padre starter Brian Tollberg (2-0) left with a 5-0 lead and two on in the eighth at Cincinnati, and relievers Ken Walker and Trevor Hoffman almost let it get away.

Walker and Hoffman each gave up two run-scoring singles in the eighth when the Reds sent nine batters to the plate.

In the ninth, Hoffman gave up a only single to Dante Bichette and secured his 19th save in 21 chances.

The Reds lost for the 14th time in 18 games and fell a season-high 8 1/2 games behind St. Louis in the Central Division.

New York 9, Pittsburgh 0--Left-hander Mike Hampton allowed only five hits at New York to record his first shutout as a Met. The victory gave the Mets a three-game sweep.

Hampton (7-5) had been 0-1 with three no-decisions since a May 26 victory at St. Louis.

Melvin Mora had a homer, double and two singles for the Mets. He also scored three times and drove in a run.

Montreal 3, Philadelphia 1--Jose Vidro and Vladimir Guerrero hit home runs to back Mike Johnson’s seven scoreless innings as the Expos avoided a three-game sweep at Montreal.

Vidro’s first-inning single against Paul Byrd (1-6) made him the first National League player with 100 hits this season. It also tied his career-best hitting streak of 10 games.

Vidro’s 12th homer came with one out in third and gave the Expos a 1-0 lead.

Guerrero, who went two for three with a walk to raise his average to .365, homered against reliever Jeff Brantley in the eighth for his 99th hit.

Florida 8, Chicago 7--Pinch-hitter Cliff Floyd homered with one out in the 10th inning at Miami as the Marlins reached the .500 mark (38-38) and completed their first sweep of the Cubs since 1997.