Two Home Runs by Gonzalez Not Enough to Win

Julio Lugo chuckled at the idea of winning a home run contest against Luis Gonzalez.

Gonzalez hit two home runs, a grand slam and solo shot, but Lugo’s first home run since May 3 was the difference Tuesday night as the Houston Astros defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks, 6-5, at Houston.

“He’s a great home run hitter and we’ve got to respect him,” Lugo said. “I’ve just been swinging the bat a little better. I was coasting for a while and now it’s time to play.”

The Astros beat Curt Schilling (12-3) to win their fourth in a row and end the Diamondbacks’ four-game winning streak.

Gonzalez hit the third grand slam of his career in the third inning and added a solo homer in the fifth that tied the score at 5-5. With 34 home runs, he is second in the majors to Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants.

“This is one of those years when everything is clicking,” Gonzalez said. “Basically, I’m trying to square up and make contact. Home runs come on mistakes and I’ve hit 34 mistakes this year.”

It was the 15th multihomer game of Gonzalez’s career, the seventh this season. His most recent came June 19 against the Dodgers.

Lugo, who went four for five, sent the first pitch from Schilling over the left-field fence in the sixth, ending a string of 143 at-bats without a homer.

It was his ninth home run of the season.

San Diego 6, Colorado 5--D’Angelo Jimenez’s sacrifice fly in the sixth inning at San Diego was the difference and was the fourth of the game for the Padres, tying a National League record.

Tony Gwynn, activated from the disabled list before the game, struck out as a pinch-hitter in the seventh in his first at-bat since May 9.

Atlanta 14, Philadelphia 7--Chipper Jones went four for four, hitting two solo homers and scoring a team record-tying five runs at Atlanta to help the Braves move within one game of the division-leading Phillies in the NL East

B.J. Surhoff’s two-run single keyed an eight-run burst in the seventh inning that put the Braves ahead, 13-5.

Chicago 3, New York 0--Kerry Wood pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings and Sammy Sosa hit his 27th home run to lead the Cubs to their first victory at New York in more than three years.

The Mets, the lowest-scoring team in the majors, were shut out for the eighth time.

They have scored two or fewer runs in 33 of 84 games.

Met Edgardo Alfonzo, activated from the disabled list before the game, was hitless in three at-bats.

Pittsburgh 3, Cincinnati 2--Todd Ritchie pitched into the seventh inning for his fifth consecutive victory and John Vander Wal and Brian Giles hit home runs for the Pirates at Cincinnati.

Milwaukee 2, St. Louis 0--Jamey Wright gave up three hits over eight innings and Mark Loretta’s run-scoring double in the eighth broke a scoreless tie at Milwaukee.

Florida 7, Montreal 0--Ryan Dempster pitched a four-hitter at Montreal in the second shutout and third complete game of his career.