Giants Are Slowed by Duckworth

Brandon Duckworth pitched only five innings, yet that was more than enough to make his manager happy.

Duckworth, making his second start of the season after beginning the year on the disabled list with elbow tendinitis, gave up a run and five hits as the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the San Francisco Giants, 10-2, Saturday night at Philadelphia.

The right-hander went only 1 1/3 innings last Sunday, giving up seven runs -- six earned -- in an 8-1 loss to Atlanta.

“He’s still not where he wants to be, but tonight was much better,” Phillie Manager Larry Bowa said. “He made pitches when he had to and threw the ball, he wasn’t as apprehensive. He gave himself a chance to win.”

Bobby Abreu homered, scored four runs and knocked in three. Jim Thome also homered and drove in two runs for the Phillies, who have won four of five. Abreu is nine for 19 with nine runs batted in and seven runs scored in his last five games.

The loss ended the Giants’ three-game winning streak, but their 18-5 start still matches their best since moving to San Francisco in 1958 -- tying the 1962 and 1971 teams.

Montreal 3, Houston 2 -- Jose Macias hit his first homer of the season with one out in the 10th inning at Montreal and the Expos extended their winning streak to three.

Macias hit Montreal’s fourth game-winning homer of the season. He connected off Billy Wagner (1-1), who was working his third inning of relief.

Rocky Biddle (2-1) pitched the 10th for the victory as the NL East-leading Expos improved to 15-9, including a 4-1 mark at Olympic Stadium.

Houston’s Jeff Bagwell went two for five to reach 2,000 career hits.

Cincinnati 7, San Diego 6 -- Pinch-hitter Ruben Mateo drew a bases-loaded walk with two out in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Reds at Cincinnati.

Adam Dunn homered and later scored the winning run. The Reds moved out of a tie with Arizona for the worst record in the NL.

Dunn drew a four-pitch walk from Jaret Wright (1-3) with one out and Austin Kearns doubled. After Felipe Lopez was intentionally walked, Luther Hackman relieved. Kelly Stinnett struck out, but Mateo batted for reliever Felix Heredia and walked on a full count.

Colorado 8, Chicago 5 -- Shawn Chacon threw seven crisp innings, and Chris Stynes and Jay Payton drove in two runs each at Denver to help the Rockies end a four-game losing streak.

Every Colorado starter had a hit by the fourth inning and the Rockies had 17 overall to win for the ninth time in 11 home games.

Atlanta 3, Milwaukee 2 -- Marcus Giles hit a solo home run in the seventh and the Braves rallied at Atlanta.

With one out, Giles lined the first pitch he saw from reliever Valerio De Los Santos (0-2) into the seats in right-center, a 410-foot shot that gave the Braves their 10th victory in 12 games.

Florida 5, St. Louis 3 -- Mike Lowell’s homer sparked a five-run seventh inning for the Marlins at Miami as the Cardinals suffered their sixth loss in seven games.

Cardinal Manager Tony La Russa served a one-game suspension for a fight between St. Louis and Arizona last weekend. La Russa watched the game from a suite while third base coach Jose Oquendo took over.

Arizona at New York -- The game between the Diamondbacks and Mets was rained out and will be made up as part of a doubleheader today.