McGwire Becomes Fastest to Reach 20 Homers

Mark McGwire made more history, and the St. Louis Cardinals hit back-to-back home runs for the second straight game.

McGwire and Ray Lankford connected on consecutive pitches in a 5-1 victory over the Florida Marlins on Wednesday night at St. Louis. McGwire, who has six homers in his last six games, also became the fastest player to reach 20 in one season.

“I’m just seeing it and hitting it, like I always do,” McGwire said.

McGwire reached 20 homers in his first 35 games, six fewer than the previous mark, set by Mickey Mantle in 1956 and matched by McGwire in 1998.

San Francisco 18, Montreal 0--Shawn Estes became the first Giant pitcher in 51 years to hit a grand slam and threw a seven-hitter at San Francisco.

Barry Bonds homered into San Francisco Bay, and J.T. Snow homered, tripled and singled to drive in five runs, matching a career high. San Francisco won for just the second time in 11 games.

Philadelphia 9, Houston 7--Bobby Abreu’s second homer of the game, a two-run shot off Billy Wagner with two out in the ninth inning, gave the Phillies the win at Houston.

Atlanta 11, Milwaukee 2--Andres Galarraga drove in six runs and Greg Maddux shut down the Brewers on four hits in seven innings at Milwaukee.

Arizona 6, Pittsburgh 5--Steve Finley capped a four-run, seventh-inning rally with a two-run double at Phoenix as the Diamondbacks extended the Pirates’ losing streak to four.

San Diego 5, New York 4--Bret Boone homered twice, including a tiebreaking leadoff shot in the eighth inning for the Padres at San Diego.

Colorado 9, Chicago 4--Jeffrey Hammonds homered twice and had three RBIs as the Rockies rallied at Denver.

Around the League

Thomas Phillips Johnson, the Pirates’ co-owner from 1946-1984, died at age 85. . . . The Braves put reliever Kevin McGlinchy on the 15-day disabled list and recalled right-hander Kerry Ligtenberg from triple-A Richmond.