Truby’s Home Run Keeps Cardinals From Clinching

Chris Truby hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning and the Houston Astros beat St. Louis, 8-6, Tuesday night at St. Louis.

The Cardinals had won seven in a row and could have clinched the division title with a victory.

Truby’s throwing error at third base helped the Cardinals take a 5-4 lead in the eighth. The Astros tied it in the ninth on Jeff Bagwell’s RBI double with two outs.

Down 8-5, the Cardinals rallied in the 10th as Craig Paquette hit an RBI double off Octavio Dotel (3-5). Jose Cabrera relieved with the bases loaded and retired Mike Matheny on a fly ball for his second save.

“I don’t take any satisfaction in stopping them from winning tonight because they’re going to win it anyway,” Astro Manager Larry Dierker said. “I do take satisfaction in coming from behind to win a game against anyone.”

San Francisco 7, Cincinnati 3--Livan Hernandez pitched a seven-hitter to win for the 12th time in 14 decisions at San Francisco’s Pacific Bell Park.

Cincinnati’s loss ensured that St. Louis, the NL Central leader, would finish no worse than tied for the division title.

Ken Griffey Jr., who had missed seven games with a partially torn left hamstring, hit his 40th homer in the eighth when he pinch hit, making him the fourth player to reach 40 in seven seasons. Babe Ruth did it 11 times, and Hank Aaron and Harmon Killebrew eight each.

San Francisco, which lowered its magic number to three for the NL West title, opened a season-high 10 1/2-game lead over second-place Arizona.

Milwaukee 9, Chicago 8--Third baseman Shane Andrews bobbled a slow grounder for an error in the ninth inning that allowed Ron Belliard to score the winning run for the Brewers, who had blown a 7-0 lead at Milwaukee.

Corey Patterson’s solo home run--his first major league hit--tied the game at 7-7 in the seventh. Patterson started in place of Sammy Sosa, whose consecutive games-played streak came at an end at 388 because of stiffness in his lower back.

San Diego 7, Colorado 2--Ben Davis, Ruben Rivera and Wiki Gonzalez hit home runs at Denver as the Padres handed the Rockies their fourth loss in a row.

Matt Clement (13-15) allowed four hits and two runs in 5 2/3 innings to win for the first time since Aug. 20 at Chicago. He matched a season-high with eight strikeouts.

Pittsburgh 12, Philadelphia 8--Emil Brown and pinch-hitter John Wehner each hit two-run doubles in a nine-run sixth inning as the Pirates won at Philadelphia.

There was a one-hour 43-minute rain delay in the bottom of the fifth. Only about 800 fans remained after the delay.

Florida 3, Montreal 1--Ryan Dempster took a shutout into the ninth inning at Montreal and Preston Wilson hit his 29th homer, leading the Marlins over the Expos.

Dempster (13-10) allowed five hits in 8 1/3 innings and struck out eight, raising his season total to 199.