Sheffield’s Grand Slam Lifts Braves

With Gary Sheffield in the middle of the lineup this year, the Atlanta Braves might finally be able to put away the New York Mets before September.

Sheffield’s tiebreaking grand slam in the eighth inning lifted Atlanta to a 6-3 victory over the Mets at New York on Wednesday night. The NL East-leading Braves won for the seventh time in eight games to open an 8 1/2-game lead on fourth-place New York.

“That’s exactly what we got him for,” Chipper Jones said of the former Dodger. “He saved his best swing of the series for the most crucial spot.”

Former Angel Mo Vaughn homered twice for the Mets, including a titanic shot off Kevin Gryboski more than halfway up the Shea Stadium scoreboard in right-center field. It was generously estimated at 505 feet, and considered one of the longest home runs in the history of the ballpark.

“You have to laugh,” Sheffield said. “Mo’s a strong guy. That was amazing. His counted for one and mine counted for four.”

The Braves have taken two of three so far in the four-game series, and six of their last seven against New York. The Mets lost for the fourth time in 11 games overall.

David Weathers (2-3) walked pinch-hitter Keith Lockhart leading off the eighth. Darren Bragg reached when first baseman Vaughn bobbled his sacrifice bunt for an error, and both runners moved up on a sacrifice by Rafael Furcal.

Julio Franco drew a walk from Scott Strickland, and Sheffield drove the next pitch 410 feet into the left-center bleachers for his 12th home run of the season and eighth career slam.

“Being a power hitter, when you hit it, you know you’ve got it,” Sheffield said.

Arizona 9, Houston 1--Randy Johnson held the Astros hitless at Houston into the sixth inning and didn’t allow a run in eight innings to lead the Diamondbacks.

Johnson (12-2) didn’t give up a hit until Gregg Zaun lined a single to center with one out in the sixth inning. He gave up three hits and struck out eight in defeating Wade Miller (3-3).

Johnson helped Arizona snap a three-game skid and improved to 9-0 when pitching after a Diamondback loss.

“He definitely is a streak stopper,” Arizona’s Mark Grace said. “I was kind of hoping he would get the no-no, but he was still dominant.

“I remember when I played against him, you knew if you won the first two games and he was pitching the third, you had better believe you were going to lose.”

Steve Finley and Grace drove in two runs apiece for the Diamondbacks.

San Francisco 6, San Diego 5--Shawon Dunston’s run-scoring infield single capped a three-run ninth inning against Padre closer Trevor Hoffman, and the Giants won at San Francisco on J.T. Snow’s RBI single in the 12th.

Hoffman had converted 27 consecutive save chances since Sept. 8 at Arizona but couldn’t protect a three-run lead in the ninth. On Monday, Hoffman gave up a game-winning homer to Barry Bonds in San Diego.

Benito Santiago and Snow singled and Bonds walked. Pinch-hitter Marvin Benard drove in two runs with a double and took third as Bonds was thrown out at the plate before Dunston’s game-tying hit.

“I know Hoffman is the best,” Dunston said. “Fortunately I put the ball in play. I know I’m old, but I can still run.”

Florida 6, Philadelphia 2--Pitcher Michael Tejera homered--a day too late--and Cliff Floyd and Derrek Lee hit consecutive home runs for the Marlins at Miami.

Tejera hit his first career homer, a solo shot in the second inning. On Tuesday night, after the Marlins ran out of position players, Tejera was sent up as a pinch-hitter and struck out to end Florida’s 7-6 loss in 11 innings to the Phillies.

Tejera (3-1) gave up one run in five innings.

St. Louis 5, Milwaukee 2--After the late Darryl Kile’s 5-year-old son Kannon threw out the first pitch, the Cardinals won at St. Louis.

Woody Williams and Mike Matheny, who spoke at a memorial service for Kile earlier in the day, played pivotal roles as the Cardinals ended a four-game losing streak.

Williams (5-3) gave up two runs in 7 2/3 innings and had an RBI single. Matheny had his first two-RBI game since April 25 as the Cardinals beat Jamey Wright (1-6).

Cincinnati 8, Chicago 6--Sean Casey knocked Cub starter Jason Bere out of the game with a line drive off the pitcher’s right knee and also hit one of four Red home runs at Chicago.

Todd Walker, Adam Dunn and Juan Encarnacion also homered for the Reds. Jimmy Haynes (8-6) worked six innings, and Danny Graves got his 23rd save.

Pittsburgh 7, Montreal 4--Brian Giles homered and drove in three runs at Pittsburgh to help Kip Wells win for the first time in five starts. Mike Williams pitched the ninth for his 21st save.

Expo right fielder Vladimir Guerrero stretched his hitting streak to 19 games with an RBI single in the eighth.