Kent Ties Career High With 7 RBIs for Giants

Jeff Kent didn’t like the hitter’s background at Pittsburgh’s new PNC Park during batting practice, didn’t think the ball would carry even on an 80-degree night.

Was he ever wrong.

Kent matched a career high with seven runs batted in on a three-run homer and two doubles Tuesday night and the San Francisco Giants defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 11-6.

Kent, who hadn’t homered in 57 at-bats since April 12, hit a drive into the left-center seats during a four-run third inning against Ramon Martinez (0-2). He added a three-run double an inning later against Terry Mulholland and an RBI double in the seventh.

“We took extra batting practice to get used to the field, and I was disappointed in it not being a hitter’s ballpark,” Kent said. “And with those [greenish] white bushes and evergreens in center field, it’s hard to see the balls coming out of that.”

Once again, Kent enjoyed playing an early May game in Pittsburgh--he hit for the cycle while going five for five with five RBIs on May 3, 1999, in Three Rivers Stadium.

Maybe the Giants were inspired by Barry Bonds’ power show during batting practice, when he hit two balls into the Allegheny River on the fly, both estimated at 475 to 500 feet.

It was the only time he made contact, as the Pirates walked Bonds four consecutive times before he struck out swinging in the eighth.

San Diego 10, Chicago 3--Ben Davis hit a grand slam, Phil Nevin added a three-run shot at Chicago and the Padres won for the fourth time in five games.

Cubs reliever Mark Fyhrie, acquired from the Angels in a trade during spring training, suffered a broken left arm in the fourth inning when he was hit by the barrel of Santiago Perez’s bat.

Milwaukee 5, Atlanta 3--The Brewers hit three more home runs and Jimmy Haynes pitched six strong innings at Atlanta.

Raul Casanova, Tyler Houston and Jeromy Burnitz homered for the Brewers, who have 42 in 25 games.

Milwaukee is on pace to hit 272 homers, which would shatter the franchise record of 216 set in 1982.

New York 7, Houston 5--Robin Ventura hit the 15th grand slam of his career, the most among active players, as the Mets scored five runs in the seventh inning at New York.

Ventura, who had been tied with Ken Griffey Jr., drove Jay Powell’s pitch about 385 feet into the first deck in right field.

Florida 4, St. Louis 3--Mike Lowell hit a two-run homer, Andy Benes walked in the tiebreaking run and the Marlins rallied at Miami.

Philadelphia 7, Colorado 1--Omar Daal took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and sparked a five-run inning with an RBI single at Philadelphia.

Arizona 8, Montreal 3--Jay Bell hit a two-run homer in the first and Matt Williams added a three-run shot one inning later for the Diamondbacks at Montreal.