Avoiding Bonds Is Key for Marlins

Florida Marlin fans booed the strategy, then cheered the result.

Rookie left-hander Michael Tejera pitched out of jams by pitching around Barry Bonds three times Friday night, and Florida beat the San Francisco Giants, 4-2, Friday at Miami.

Bonds saw only one strike in his first three at-bats, each with at least one runner on base. The crowd jeered, but each time Tejera (8-5) escaped without further damage.

“That’s the guy you don’t want to beat you, so I pitched around him, and it worked,” Tejera said. “With guys on base, I walk him every time.”

Bonds swung for the only time in the seventh, lining a 3-0 pitch from Vladimir Nunez for an RBI single. Bonds hasn’t homered since becoming the fourth player to reach the 600 milestone Aug. 9 against Pittsburgh.

Florida’s Kevin Millar again feasted on Kirk Rueter (10-7), driving in two runs with a homer and a single. Millar was five for five lifetime against the left-hander with three homers and six RBIs before flying out to the warning track in the fifth.

The Giants managed seven hits on little sleep. They reached their hotel at 5:30 a.m. Friday following a long night in Atlanta, which ended with a 3-3 tie after a 2 1/2-hour rain delay in the 10th inning.

Braden Looper pitched a perfect ninth for his sixth save in nine chances. Jeff Kent grounded out to end the game with Bonds on deck.

Cincinnati 9, Houston 3--Austin Kearns hit his first homer in two months and Barry Larkin emerged from a slump by driving in three runs to lead the Reds at Cincinnati. Brian Moehler (2-2) had his best start since the Reds got him in a July 23 trade, giving up an unearned run and four hits in seven innings. It was the first time in 15 games that a Red starter lasted seven innings.

The Reds stopped a three-game losing streak without Ken Griffey Jr., who sat out because of a sore left thigh that he aggravated while chasing a ball in the outfield. He is expected back in the lineup in a couple of days.

Philadelphia 4, St. Louis 0--Randy Wolf pitched a four-hitter and Travis Lee hit a three-run homer as the Phillies won at Philadelphia to stop St. Louis’ six-game winning streak. Scott Rolen, playing his first game in Philadelphia since he was traded to the Cardinals on July 29, went two for four and made an error. The All-Star third baseman received boos from the crowd of 31,117 at Veterans Stadium each time he came to the plate.

Atlanta 4, Colorado 1--Chipper Jones hit a two-run homer and Kevin Millwood won for the 10th time in 11 starts, limiting the Rockies to only five hits in eight innings, to help the Braves win at Atlanta. John Smoltz struck out Juan Uribe for his 43rd save in 47 chances after loading the bases with two out in the ninth.

Montreal 11, San Diego 6--Pinch-hitter Matt Cepicky’s first career home run sparked a four-run seventh inning for the Expos, who won at Montreal despite losing All-Star Vladimir Guerrero to a shoulder injury. The Expos ended San Diego’s three-game winning streak.

Milwaukee 10, Pittsburgh 3--Jose Hernandez hit a three-run homer to lead a 15-hit attack for the Brewers, who won at Pittsburgh to hand the Pirates their seventh consecutive loss.