Schilling Shuts Down Giants, Wins 14th

For all but a couple of pitches, Curt Schilling was at his best.

Schilling threw a four-hitter and struck out 11 to become the season’s first 14-game winner as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the San Francisco Giants, 2-1, Friday night at Phoenix.

“He was his old self tonight,” Diamondback catcher Damian Miller said. “He was as good tonight as he’s been all year.”

Schilling had a shutout until Rich Aurilia’s home run with two out in the ninth. Jeff Kent flied out to end the game, leaving Barry Bonds in the on-deck circle.

Bonds was 0 for 3, including a first-inning strikeout on Schilling’s 97-mph fastball. He lined out to deep right in the seventh.

Craig Counsell’s two-out single off Russ Ortiz in the fifth inning provided Arizona’s runs.

Arizona won its third in a row and the Giants, who face Randy Johnson today, have lost three straight.

“These are tough ones to take and lose,” Giant Manager Dusty Baker said, “but we’ve got another tough guy tomorrow.”

After going 0-2 in three starts, Schilling (14-3) earned his second complete-game victory in a row and third of the season. He had his 10th double-digit strikeout effort of the season and walked none.

Schilling threw 106 pitches to set down San Francisco in only 2 hours 19 minutes. The count reached three balls against only two San Francisco batters--David Bell to start the game and Aurilia to end the sixth.

Besides Aurilia’s homer, only one Giant made it past first base. Tsuyoshi Shinjo led off the sixth with a single, went to second when Ortiz bounced out to Schilling, then advanced to third on a wild pitch. But Schilling struck out Bell and Aurilia to end the inning.

New York 5, Florida 3--A.J. Burnett’s wildness at Miami helped the Mets win for the only the third time in nine games. Burnett gave up three hits and three walks in six innings, but he also had three wild pitches. He struck out nine, including four in the first inning, when two of his wild pitches helped lead to two runs.

After giving up consecutive hits to Roberto Alomar and Edgardo Alfonzo to start the game, Burnett struck out the next two Mets. He also struck out Timo Perez on a curveball in the dirt, but it got away from catcher Mike Redmond, allowing Alomar to score, Alfonzo to advance to second and Perez to reach base.

Jay Payton followed with an RBI single, but Burnett bounced back and struck out Roger Cedeno.

Colorado 9, San Diego 6--Mike Hampton pitched six strong innings and the Rockies took advantage of sloppy fielding by the Padres to win at Denver. The Padres had four errors that led to five unearned runs for their fifth consecutive loss. San Diego has lost 11 of 13 overall and eight of nine on the road.

Hampton (5-9) has won two of his last three starts after opening the season 1-5. He gave up three runs and eight hits in six innings, only the seventh time in 18 starts he has given up three or fewer earned runs.

Atlanta 4, Chicago 3--Keith Lockhart hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning to back the pitching of Kevin Millwood as the host Braves won for the 14th time in 16 games. Millwood (6-5) went six innings and gave up four hits, including Fred McGriff’s towering solo home run in the second. It was McGriff’s 465th career homer, tying him for 23rd on the all-time list with Dave Winfield.

John Smoltz gave up Delino DeShields’ RBI single with two out in the ninth before getting his 30th save in 33 chances.

Pittsburgh 4, Houston 3--Aramis Ramirez, booed loudly after his throwing error led to three Astro runs, hit a go-ahead homer and drove in two runs as the Pirates rallied to win at Pittsburgh.

Ramirez drew a bases-loaded walk during the Pirates’ three-run fifth inning, then put them ahead with a one-out solo shot in the seventh off Pedro Borbon (2-2). The homer was only the sixth for Ramirez, who hit a career-high 35 homers last year but has been slowed all season by a badly sprained ankle.

Cincinnati 8, Milwaukee 6--Adam Dunn hit a solo homer and a two-run double off the top of the 40-foot wall in center field for the Reds at Cincinnati.

Danny Graves pitched the ninth for his 26th save in 32 chances, snuffing out a comeback with his defense. Eric Young walked, moved to second on Hammonds’ single and tried to score from there on Graves’ wild pitch.

The closer blocked the plate, took the throw from catcher Jason LaRue and made the tag for the first out of the inning.

Montreal 8, Philadelphia 3--Brad Wilkerson homered, Troy O’Leary drove in two runs and Tomo Ohka struck out a career-high eight as the Expos won at Philadelphia. Wilkerson and O’Leary each scored twice, and Montreal pinch-hitter Wil Cordero hit his 100th career home run. Ohka (8-4) gave up three runs--one earned--on three hits in six innings.