Kent Helps Astros Defeat Giants, 8-5

The Houston Astros, with help from Jeff Kent and Craig Biggio, prevented the San Francisco Giants from matching the best start in franchise history, beating them, 8-5, Wednesday night to avoid a three-game sweep at Pacific Bell Park.

The Giants (13-2) had their winning streak end at six and failed to equal the 1918 New York Giants (18-1) for the best start in franchise history.

Kent hit a two-run double against his former team and Biggio hit a three-run homer. Brad Lidge, Octavio Dotel and Billy Wagner combined for five shutout innings in relief.

After the Astros tied it with a five-run fifth on Biggio’s fourth homer of the season and Kent’s double, Orlando Merced drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh with a single off Scott Eyre.

Arizona 4, Colorado 3 -- Luis Gonzalez singled home the winning run as the Diamondbacks rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth at Phoenix.

David Dellucci, who entered in the ninth inning after Danny Bautista left because of a hip flexor, singled in two runs to tie the score at 3-3. Gonzalez followed with a line single to give Arizona only its fourth win in 15 games.

Chicago 10, Cincinnati 4 -- Sammy Sosa hit his 502nd career home run, a three-run shot in the first inning. Sosa’s homer to center, his third of the season, was one of four home runs hit by the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Damian Miller, Hee Seop Choi and Moises Alou had the others.

St. Louis 15, Milwaukee 2 -- The Cardinals tied a season-high in runs and set season highs with 10 extra-base hits at Milwaukee. Matt Morris (1-1) pitched six solid innings and hit his first major league home run, and Scott Rolen hit two two-run homers.

Pittsburgh 6, New York 3 -- The Mets finally got their first extra-base hit and first run batted in from Mike Piazza -- a solo homer in his 36th at-bat of the season -- but still lost for the seventh time in eight games. Jeff Suppan (3-0) limited the Mets to two runs, one earned, and four hits at Pittsburgh.

Atlanta 3, Montreal 2 -- Rookie Horacio Ramirez (2-2) shut out the Expos until Ron Calloway’s two-run homer in the eighth inning at San Juan, Puerto Rico. The 23-year-old left-hander walked none and struck out five.

Florida 3, Philadelphia 1 -- Brad Penny (2-1) gave up only two hits in seven shutout innings at Philadelphia to help the Marlins win for the first time in four games.