Gonzalez Ties April Home Run Record

Luis Gonzalez homered twice to match the major league record with 13 April homers as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Atlanta Braves, 13-6, Thursday night at Phoenix.

Steve Finley had five RBIs with a triple and his first homer of the season, and Damian Miller had three RBIs and his first home run. Erubiel Durazo also homered for Arizona, which won its fourth straight.

Gonzalez broke the NL record for April homers with a solo shot in the first, then hit a three-run homer off Damian Moss in a five-run eighth. He matched the major league record Ken Griffey Jr. set with Seattle in 1997.

Gonzalez, who had his third multihomer game this season and the 11th in his career, was the first batter Moss faced in the major leagues.

Arizona tied a team record for homers in a game with five, the second time the Diamondbacks have done it this season.

San Diego 11, Philadelphia 0--Rickey Henderson hit a three-run homer a day after becoming baseball’s walks leader, and Kevin Jarvis pitched a seven-hitter at San Diego.

After the game, it was reported on ESPN.com that the Padres put Henderson on special waivers, which would give them the option to outright him to the minor leagues or release him after he clears waivers today.

Milwaukee 12, New York 8--Tyler Houston hit a grand slam off Brett Hinchliffe, one of five Milwaukee homers at Milwaukee. Brewer starter Paul Rigdon was hit in the face in the fourth by Rey Ordonez’s one-out smash and left the game, bleeding profusely from a cut above his upper lip.

Montreal 4, St. Louis 3--Milton Bradley drew a bases-loaded walk in the 15th inning as the Expos avoided a three-game sweep at St. Louis. Cardinal pitcher Rick Ankiel gave up three runs, six hits and four walks in 4 1/3 innings.

Cincinnati 7, San Francisco 5--Barry Bonds hit his 504th career home run in a losing cause as the Reds got back-to-back homers from Ruben Rivera and Kelly Stinnett to secure a series sweep at San Francisco.

Chicago 7, Colorado 2--Rondell White had two hits and drove in two runs and Jon Lieber made another solid start at Denver.

Around the League

Florida Gov. Jeb Bush shrugged off a possible ultimatum from baseball Commissioner Bud Selig about the future of the Florida Marlins. “If the community doesn’t come up with the money the Marlins may not be around in Miami,” Bush said. . . . San Francisco put infielder Felipe Crespo on the disabled list and recalled infielder Edwards Guzman from triple-A Fresno.

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April Home Runs

Most home runs hit in April:

AMERICAN LEAGUE

13--Ken Griffey Jr., Seattle, 1997.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

13--Luis Gonzalez, Arizona, 2001.

11--Willie Stargell, Pittsburgh, 1971; Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia, 1976; Gary Sheffield, Florida, 1996; Barry Bonds, San Francisco, 1996; Vinny Castilla, Colorado, 1998; Larry Walker, Colorado, 2001.