Saarloos Sinks His Problems

Some extended work on the side paid off for rookie Kirk Saarloos.

Saarloos had struggled in his previous three starts with an 8.22 earned-run average over 15 1/3 innings. But he gave up only four hits in seven innings Sunday to lead the Houston Astros over the Cincinnati Reds, 1-0, at Houston.

Lance Berkman accounted for the only run with his career-high 35th homer.

Saarloos (6-3) struck out five and walked two, winning for the first time in three decisions since Aug. 10. He had won five starts in a row before his recent struggles.

“I think I have my problems worked out,” said Saarloos, who retired 10 consecutive batters from the fourth through seventh innings.

“I worked on it in the bullpen on Friday and threw about 75-80% sinkers during that workout,” he said. “I found the one thing that makes my sinker click. I just have to slow down and make sure I don’t pull my shoulder open too soon.”

For a pitcher whose fastball runs in the mid-80s, getting the sinker to sink is important.

“Saarloos is the type of guy whose mechanics have to be sound,” pitching coach Burt Hooton said. “He has to be just right to get the sink on his sinker. He worked on that in the bullpen and it helped a lot. His pitches were as sharp today as they have been all year.”

The Reds were certainly impressed. Especially Aaron Boone, who struck out swinging in the fifth inning and angrily tossed his bat to the ground.

Adam Dunn got a single off Saarloos in the fourth inning, but struck out the other two times he faced him.

“He has so much movement on the ball and he was keeping it down,” Dunn said. “He had a real good sinker today and a real good changeup. He kept us off-balance. He’s got some good stuff. He reminds me of Greg Maddux.”

Pedro Borbon finished, striking out three batters in the ninth, and got his first save since Aug. 20, 2000, for Toronto at Texas.

Ryan Dempster (7-13) gave up two hits and four walks in seven innings, giving up the first-inning homer to Berkman. Dempster is 2-5 in nine starts since Cincinnati acquired him from Florida on July 11.

San Francisco 8, Montreal 4--Barry Bonds doubled twice and scored two runs, and Jason Schmidt got his second victory on the homestand as the Giants won at San Francisco. Benito Santiago drove in three runs and J.T. Snow drove in two as the Giants avoided a series sweep by scoring more than three runs for the first time since Aug. 13.

Vladimir Guerrero got three hits and stole two bases for the Expos, but Javier Vazquez (8-11) lost his fifth consecutive start, giving up eight hits and six runs over 5 1/3 lackluster innings.

Florida 7, San Diego 6--Luis Castillo singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning as the Marlins won their first road series in more than two months with a win at San Diego.

Padre pinch-runner Trenidad Hubbard was thrown out at the plate trying to score the potential tying run on a pitch that got away from Florida catcher Charles Johnson in the bottom of the eighth.

Kevin Millar homered and drove in three runs for the Marlins. Juan Encarnacion hit a solo homer, his 20th, a career high.

Philadelphia 5, St. Louis 3--Placido Polanco beat his former team with a go-ahead single in the ninth and the Phillies won at St. Louis for their first sweep at Busch Stadium since 1990.

Polanco, traded from the Cardinals to Philadelphia last month in the deal for Scott Rolen, singled off Jason Isringhausen (2-2) after singles by Bobby Abreu and Travis Lee for a 4-3 lead. Jeremy Giambi walked with the bases loaded to add a run.

Marlon Anderson and Pat Burrell homered as Philadelphia won its fifth in a row.

New York 7, Colorado 4--Raul Gonzalez hit his first two major league home runs and had four runs batted in to lead Al Leiter and the Mets at Colorado. Edgardo Alfonzo also homered and had three RBIs for the Mets, who have won two in a row after a 12-game losing skid.

Pittsburgh 3, Milwaukee 2--Kris Benson pitched eight solid innings and Rob Mackowiak homered as the Pirates won at Milwaukee. Aramis Ramirez’s sacrifice fly snapped a seventh-inning tie as the Brewers lost for the fifth consecutive time.