Berkman Is in Unusual Position

Lance Berkman tied Sammy Sosa for the major league lead with his 15th homer, and Roy Oswalt struck out a season-high 11 in eight innings as the Houston Astros beat Pittsburgh, 3-1, Thursday night at Houston.

Oswalt (5-2) gave up one run and seven hits and one walk in his longest outing of the season. He struck out his last four batters.

With the score tied 1-1 in the eighth, Richard Hidalgo led off with a single against reliever Brian Boehringer (0-1). After a sacrifice, Boehringer intentionally walked Orlando Merced.

The runners advanced on a groundout and Jose Vizcaino followed with a two-run single to left off Scott Sauerbeck.

Berkman led off the second inning with a shot that curved just behind the foul pole in right field to give Houston a 1-0 lead.

“The one thing that’s bothersome about this situation is how people blow it out of proportion,” Berkman said.

“They get excited about me being tied for the lead. For Sammy Sosa, that’s not unusual. But my career high is 30 home runs. I haven’t even approached his plateau. For me to get overjoyed about being tied for the home run lead would be ridiculous.”

Atlanta 5, San Francisco 4--Mark DeRosa hit a tiebreaking single and Chipper Jones added a three-run double in the eighth inning at San Francisco.

With the score tied at 1-1, Javy Lopez was walked by Jason Schmidt (0-1) with one out and was replaced by pinch runner Marcus Giles. After Giles stole second, Rafael Furcal walked and DeRosa singled up the middle off Felix Rodriguez.

Gary Sheffield walked to load the bases, then Jones his bases-clearing double to the right-field wall.

John Smoltz gave up a three-run homer to Benito Santiago with one out in the ninth. The Giants put two runners on before Smoltz struck out David Bell and Marvin Benard to end it.

Arizona 4, Philadelphia 2--Randy Johnson gave up a home run to Jimmy Rollins on the game’s first pitch, then shut down the Phillies for the next six innings at Phoenix.

Although far from his overpowering best, Johnson (7-1) struck out eight in seven innings to win for the first time in three starts.

Erubiel Durazo, in his first game as Arizona’s starting first baseman, struck out in his first three at-bats, then doubled home a run in Arizona’s three-run seventh inning.

Colorado 10, Florida 3--Mike Hampton pitched eight innings in his second straight strong start at Coors Field and Todd Zeile homered and drove in four runs.

Bobby Estalella hit his fourth homer in as many games for the Rockies, a three-run shot in a six-run first inning. Colorado has won seven of 10 overall and nine of 10 at home.

Hampton (2-5), the highest-paid pitcher in baseball, gave up three runs and four hits to win for only the seventh time in his last 23 decisions.

New York 3, San Diego 1--Al Leiter was dominant on the road again, pitching six strong innings and driving in the go-ahead run at San Diego.

Leiter (5-2) gave up only an unearned run and seven hits to lower his earned-run average in five road starts to 1.41.

Cincinnati 2, Milwaukee 1--Todd Walker’s RBI single off Mike DeJean in the 11th inning gave the Reds a four-game sweep at Milwaukee.

The Reds beat the Brewers for the seventh time in 11 days.