Munro Leads Astros to Win

Pete Munro found out another reason he likes playing for Manager Jimy Williams.

Munro (4-2) had an admittedly shaky game but still managed to last five innings and help the Houston Astros beat the Cincinnati Reds, 6-4, Friday night at Houston.

The right-hander gave up four runs and seven hits and will remember facing Ken Griffey, who went 4 for 4, in the fifth inning more than anything.

The Reds had scored two runs to pull within 4-3 and Griffey singled in another run to tie the game. Munro was just surprised he was still on the mound with lefty specialist Pedro Borbon fresh in the bullpen.

After Griffey tied the score, Munro got Austin Kearns to ground out to end the inning. The Astros then scored two runs in the bottom of the inning to give Munro the win. It was the Astros’ third win in a row and moved them a season-high eight games above .500.

Brad Ausmus and Adam Everett hit consecutive RBI doubles in the fifth to give the Astros the win. Brian Hunter added two RBIs.

Williams said he thought Munro deserved the chance to get the victory.

“Pete has really given us something extra this season,” Williams said. “He’s given it to us in relief and starting. He never complains.”

Arizona 3, Chicago 2--Byung-Hyun Kim struck out Sammy Sosa with runners on second and third to end the game at Phoenix.

Rather than intentionally walk Sosa, the Diamondbacks decided to pitch to him because of Kim’s success against the slugger.

Sosa swung and missed at a 1-2 pitch, leaving him hitless in nine at-bats with seven strikeouts lifetime against Kim. Kim got his 32nd save.

Luis Gonzalez had a two-run homer for NL West-leading Arizona, which won for the 12th in 13 games.

San Diego 18, Florida 2--The Padres, who had 18 hits, set season highs for runs and hits in their highest-scoring game since May 19, 2001, when they beat Montreal, 20-7. The Marlins gave up their most runs since losing, 20-3, to Atlanta on Oct. 5, 2001.

The Padres did most of their damage in the bottom of the fifth inning when they scored nine runs. Bubba Trammell hit his second homer of the game in the inning.

Trammell went 4 for 5 with four runs and four RBIs. He hit a two-run homer in the second inning off Carl Pavano (3-10) and a solo shot to start the scoring in the fifth against reliever Vic Darensbourg.

Philadelphia 5, St. Louis 4--Bobby Abreu homered to lead off the top of the 14th inning to give the Phillies their third consecutive victory.

Abreu, who entered the game with one hit in 12 at-bats against the Cardinals this season, went 3 for 6 with a run-scoring single in the first. He hit his 15th homer over the wall in left-center on a 2-1 pitch from rookie Kevin Joseph (0-1).

It was only the third loss in 14 games for the Cardinals, who lead the NL Central by five games over the Astros. The marathon lasted 5 hours 13 minutes--the longest game for both teams this season.

Colorado 10, New York 4--Jay Payton tormented his former team, homering and driving in four runs at Coors Field as the Rockies handed the Mets their 12th loss in a row. It’s the Mets’ sixth longest losing streak in franchise history and the longest in 22 years, since they lost 13 in a row from Aug. 31-Sept. 12, 1980.

Montreal 7, San Francisco 2--Tomo Ohka gave up Barry Bonds’ 602nd homer, but he also pitched 7 2/3 strong innings and drove home the go-ahead run with a squeeze bunt at San Francisco. Ohka (11-6) won his third consecutive decision, yielding six hits and three walks as the Expos snapped San Francisco’s four-game winning streak.

Pittsburgh 6, Milwaukee 3--Adam Hyzdu hit a grand slam and the Pirates continued their success against the Brewers. They are 13-4 against the Brewers this season, including a 7-1 record at Miller Park. Reliever Jayson Durocher (1-1) got out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning, but wasn’t so fortunate in the seventh while trying to protect a 3-2 lead.