Diamondbacks Fall Into West Tie

Brad Ausmus hit a go-ahead single in the seventh inning as the Houston Astros rallied to defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 6-4, Tuesday night at Phoenix.

The Diamondbacks dropped into a first-place tie in the NL West with the Dodgers, who won, 10-4, against Colorado in Denver.

Houston’s Lance Berkman, hitless in his first four at-bats, hit his 19th home run of the season, a solo shot off Mike Morgan in the eighth.

Ausmus, who was two for three with a triple and reached base four times, singled down the right-field line to bring home the final two of three runs the Astros scored off reliever Bret Prinz (0-2) in the seventh.

Jeff Bagwell, Richard Hidalgo and Julio Lugo each doubled and singled as the Astros got 13 hits.

Junior Spivey homered and Steve Finley was three for four with a triple and two stolen bases for Arizona, which lost for only the second time in 30 games when leading after six innings.

San Francisco 3, San Diego 1--Jeff Kent hit a three-run homer in the first inning and the Giants won at San Diego to extend the Padres’ losing streak to a season-high six games.

It was the fourth homer in two nights by the Giants, although the Padres once again kept Barry Bonds in the ballpark.

Bonds was aboard for Kent’s homer after drawing the first of two walks. He leads the majors with 67 walks.

St. Louis 8, Cincinnati 5--Fernando Vina had three hits and Albert Pujols hit a two-run homer at Cincinnati to lead the Cardinals past the Reds.

The Cardinals have won 18 of their last 24 games, putting the pressure on first-place Cincinnati in the NL Central. The Reds have led the division since April 16, but their five-game cushion is down to one.

Milwaukee 6, Chicago 5--Alex Sanchez atoned for his ninth-inning baserunning blunder with an RBI single in the 11th off Jeff Fassero at Milwaukee as the Brewers defeated the Cubs.

Jose Hernandez led off the 11th with a single off Fassero (1-4) and was sacrificed to second. After an intentional walk to pinch-hitter Alex Ochoa, Sanchez hit a single off the glove of diving shortstop Alex Gonzalez.

Center fielder Corey Patterson made a good throw to the plate, but Hernandez slid around the tag by Todd Hundley, giving the Brewers a season-high five consecutive victories.

Florida 5, Philadelphia 0--Josh Beckett lasted only three innings because of another blister, but five Marlin relievers finished a four-hitter at Philadelphia.

Beckett gave up one hit, struck out five and walked two before coming out with a blister on his middle finger. The 22-year-old right-hander spent two weeks on the disabled list last month because of a blister.

Pittsburgh 5, Montreal 2--Chad Hermansen hit a leadoff home run against Carl Pavano (3-7), and Rob Mackowiak homered twice to lead the Pirates at Montreal.

New York at Atlanta, ppd.--The first rainout in Turner Field history halted the Mets-Braves game, a matchup of the top two teams in the NL East. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Sept. 10.