Atlanta Is Kept From Clinching Playoff Berth

Atlanta’s charge toward the playoffs hit a bump in the road Friday night at Montreal with a 6-4 loss to the Expos, but the Braves didn’t seem to be concerned.

The Braves, who have made eight straight playoff appearances, could have clinched at least a wild-card berth with a win.

“We’re not thinking about it,” losing pitcher Kevin Millwood said. “We’re trying to get the best record and that’s what we’re gunning for. We want to win the East and we want to finish up with the best record, and anything less than that is going to be a letdown.”

Tony Armas Jr. ran his scoreless streak to 19 innings before allowing a run and Orlando Cabrera homered for the second straight game to lead the Expos.

Armas (7-8) brought a 14-inning scoreless streak into the game and didn’t allow a run until Bobby Bonilla hit his fifth homer with two outs in the sixth.

“He throws great,” Bonilla said. “He’s got good stuff. A good fastball, good movement, a good live arm--I was impressed.”

Andruw Jones hit a three-run homer in the seventh to chase Armas and draw the Braves to within one at 5-4. Armas allowed six hits and four runs in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out four and walked five.

Cincinnati 12, Houston 5--The Reds hit six home runs, the Astros three at Cincinnati.

Richard Hidalgo had two homers for the Astros, who upped their season total to 240 to set a National League record. The old mark of 239 was set by Colorado in 1997.

Juan Castro, Michael Tucker and Sean Casey all homered in the second inning off Jose Lima, who set an NL single-season record by allowing his 47th home run.

Philadelphia’s Robin Roberts allowed 46 home runs in 1956, when he pitched 297 innings in 43 games. Lima has pitched 188 1/3 innings in 32 games this season.

The major league record for home runs allowed in a season is 50, set by Minnesota’s Bert Blyleven in 1986.

Chicago 5, St. Louis 4--A late rally by the Cubs at Chicago bailed out a wild Kerry Wood and Darryl Kile fell short in his attempt to become the NL’s first 20-game winner.

Kile, also looking to become the Cardinals’ first 20-game winner in 15 years, took a 4-3 lead into the eighth inning but couldn’t hold on.

Wood walked eight of the 13 batters he faced before being removed after 1 1/3 innings. It was Wood’s shortest outing in 48 career starts.

Arizona 7, San Francisco 1--A day after the Giants clinched the NL West title, Curt Schilling pitched a four-hitter to end his five-game losing streak and lead the Diamondbacks at San Francisco.

Schilling (11-12) won for the first time since Aug. 18. He struck out 10 and walked one in his eighth complete game this season.

Florida 8, Colorado 4--Preston Wilson hit his 30th home run and Cliff Floyd drove in two runs as the Marlins won at Denver.

Wilson became the 24th major league player to have 30 homers and steal 30 bases in a season.

Pittsburgh at Milwaukee--This game was rained out and rescheduled as part of a doubleheader today.