Three Homers for Berkman in Win

Lance Berkman became the first major leaguer this season to homer three times in a game, driving in five runs as the Houston Astros hit five home runs in beating the Reds, 8-3, Tuesday night at Cincinnati.

“Tonight was a good night,” Berkman said. “But the season’s built around singles and base hits. You can’t always hit the ball out of the ballpark.”

The first two Tuesday night were off starter Jose Acevedo, and they cost Acevedo (2-1) his job. Acevedo was optioned to triple-A Louisville after the game.

“He left some pitches up and out over the plate,” Berkman said. “They were probably mistakes.”

Berkman also had a solo homer in the fifth off Jose Rijo, breaking a 24-inning scoreless streak by the Red bullpen.

Arizona 5, St. Louis 3--Although not at his overpowering best, Randy Johnson was good enough to become baseball’s first four-game winner at Phoenix.

Johnson (4-0) gave up three runs--the total he’d given up combined in his first three starts--and eight hits in seven innings. He struck out five and walked one.

Counting his final 24 regular-season starts last season and six in the postseason, Johnson is 25-3.

New York 3, Atlanta 1--Braves’ second baseman Marcus Giles misplayed Rey Ordonez’s sixth-inning grounder, allowing the tiebreaking run to score at New York.

In all, the Braves made three errors, helping the Mets score two unearned runs and beat their NL East rival for the fourth time in five games. The Mets have won six of seven to move into the division lead.

Atlanta outfielder Gary Sheffield missed the game because of a sore left wrist. He was hit by pitches twice Thursday at Philadelphia.

San Francisco 5, San Diego 1--Kirk Rueter held San Diego to three hits in seven scoreless innings to give San Francisco’s weary bullpen a rest and Benito Santiago hit a two-run homer at San Diego.

Padre Manager Bruce Bochy and first baseman Phil Nevin were ejected in the bottom of the sixth for arguing a strike call, and Nevin had to be restrained from going after umpire Mike Everitt.

Rueter’s solid effort came a night after the Giants’ bullpen had to work 71/3 innings in a 4-3 loss because Ryan Jensen retired only two batters before leaving with a sprained ankle.

Pittsburgh 5, Milwaukee 1--Jimmy Anderson gave up three hits in seven innings and Brian Giles homered at Milwaukee as the Pirates handed the Brewers their ninth loss in 10 games.

Pittsburgh has won six road games in a row and is 8-5 start--the Pirates’ best start in three years.

Florida 7, Philadelphia 6--Preston Wilson’s two-out single in the bottom of the ninth inning scored Kevin Millar from second base at Miami.

Wilson’s second game-winning single in three games gave Florida its first three-game win streak of the season.

Wilson beat Atlanta with a hit in the 14th inning on Saturday.

Montreal 8, Chicago 4--Vladimir Guerrero homered twice and had four runs batted in, including a run-scoring single to cap the Expos’ five-run fourth inning at Montreal.