Giants Get a Little Help and Defeat Pirates, 4-3

Pokey Reese’s error in the 13th inning allowed the go-ahead run to score and the San Francisco Giants defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-3, Wednesday night at Pittsburgh.

Jose Cruz Jr. hit a three-run homer in the eighth to tie it for the Giants, who won for the first time in three games and improved to 16-4 -- their best start since 1945.

J.T. Snow was hit by a pitch from Julian Tavarez (0-1) with one out in the 13th, and Benito Santiago reached on an infield single.

After Marvin Benard flied out, Pedro Feliz grounded to third baseman Aramis Ramirez, but his throw glanced off Reese’s glove into right field as Snow scored.

Jim Brower (3-1) pitched two scoreless innings for the victory.

San Diego 2, Chicago 0 -- Adam Eaton (1-1) struck out a career-high 12 at Wrigley Field to help the Padres end a losing streak at six and hand the Cubs their first shutout loss.

Arizona 6, Montreal 2 -- After drawing 36,879 -- the Expos’ biggest home crowd in two years -- for Tuesday’s Olympic Stadium opener, only 6,380 fans turned out for the second game of a six-game home stand.

Luis Gonzalez hit his sixth homer and drove in two runs and Chad Moeller and Steve Finley also homered for the Diamondbacks.

New York 3, Houston 2 -- Al Leiter (3-0) beat the Astros for the first time in nearly five years. He gave up two runs and seven hits in six innings at Shea Stadium to defeat Houston for the first time since Sept. 15, 1998.

Philadelphia 6, Colorado 4 -- Ricky Ledee capped a five-run first inning with a two-run double to lead the Phillies at Philadelphia.

Florida 5, Milwaukee 4 -- Juan Encarnacion singled home the winning run in the bottom of the 12th inning.

Luis Castillo and Ivan Rodriguez opened the 12th with consecutive singles off Shane Nance (0-1) before Encarnacion hit a drive off the left-field wall.