Schilling Puts End to Losing Streak

Curt Schilling brought an end to the losing streak he began four days ago.

Schilling earned his National League-leading 15th victory as the Arizona Diamondbacks snapped a four-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Montreal Expos on Tuesday night at Phoenix.

“I felt good about this game last night when I went to bed,” said Schilling, who tied Roger Clemens for the major league lead in victories. “I was determined when I went to bed last night to have an impact out there. As a starting pitcher, you have the ability to change momentum in a day. I thrive on this.”

Steve Finley hit his eighth homer for the Diamondbacks, who moved with a half game of the Dodgers in the National League West.

Schilling (15-5) gave up eight hits and struck out eight. He leads the majors with six complete games and has 71 in his career.

“When Schill takes the mound, that’s what he has in mind,” said Arizona Manager Bob Brenly. “He doesn’t even like to see guys warming up down there.”

The Expos had at least one hit in each of the first four innings, but scored only one run.

San Francisco 8, Pittsburgh 7--Armando Rios mishandled Pedro Feliz’s single to right, allowing former teammate Shawon Dunston to score in the 11th inning at San Francisco as the Giants won their sixth in a row.

Dunston led off the 11th with a single against Marc Wilkins (0-1). After two outs, Feliz drove a pitch to shallow right.

Rios, who played right field for San Francisco all season before a trade sent him to Pittsburgh on Monday, stopped the ball but didn’t come up cleanly to make a throw, allowing Dunston to score standing up. No error was charged.

The Pirates were down to their final strike in the ninth before Aramis Ramirez hit a game-tying two-run homer to left against Giant closer Robb Nen.

St. Louis 6, Atlanta 2--Mark McGwire hit his 572nd career home run and Dustin Hermanson (9-8) did not give up an earned run in seven innings as the Cardinals defeated the Braves at St. Louis.

J.D. Drew, activated from the disabled list after missing 35 games with a broken right hand, hit a two-run triple off Mike Remlinger in a four-run seventh inning.

McGwire is one homer behind Harmon Killebrew for fifth place on the career list. McGwire has 18 homers on the season and his last eight hits have been home runs.

Chicago 7, San Diego 3--Michael Tucker hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the sixth off rookie Brian Lawrence, called up to replace the departed Sterling Hitchcock, and the Cubs defeated the Padres at San Diego.

Jon Lieber (14-5) pitched seven strong innings to win for the eighth time in nine starts.

Besides Tucker, two other Cubs newcomers had big nights. Fred McGriff went three for four with an RBI and a run, and reliever Dave Weathers made his Cub debut by getting Bubba Trammell to fly out to left with two on and two out in the seventh with the Cubs leading by one.

Colorado 7, Philadelphia 6--Todd Helton hit his second solo home run, a one-out shot in the ninth inning, and the Rockies rallied past the Phillies at Denver.

Helton’s 33rd home run, off Rheal Cormier, handed the Phillies their fourth consecutive loss and third in a row on a homer in the bottom of the ninth.

Houston 3, New York 2--Craig Biggio’s 10th-inning home run gave the Astros the victory at Houston and left the Mets on the wrong side of a game-winning homer.

The Mets won their previous two games against Philadelphia on homers in the bottom of the ninth inning by Robin Ventura and Mike Piazza.

Florida 5, Milwaukee 1--Ryan Dempster (12-9) pitched a three-hitter at Milwaukee for his fourth career complete game as the Marlins snapped a four-game losing streak.