Giants Have No Problem With Work on the Road

A week on the road has helped the San Francisco Giants open up their West Division lead a bit.

J.T. Snow hit a run-scoring single with two out in the ninth inning and the Giants won, 3-2, Sunday to take two of three games from the San Diego Padres.

The Giants went 5-2 on a swing through St. Louis and San Diego.

“We’ve played pretty good ball on the road this year,” said Rich Aurilia, whose sixth-inning homer tied the score, 2-2. “So we might as well get right back out there.”

Actually, they do. The Giants return home for two games against St. Louis, then play at Colorado and Arizona before the All-Star break.

The Giants won three of four at St. Louis before winning the series against the Padres, who had won the final two of a three-game series at Seattle, then swept a three-game series at Dodger Stadium.

A week ago, the Giants led the Dodgers by three games. They now have a five-game lead over Arizona, which beat the Dodgers.

The Giants kept the last-place Padres from winning their third consecutive series and beat San Diego for the seventh time in nine games this season.

The Giants started their winning rally with one out when Yorvit Torrealba’s sharp grounder glanced off the glove of third baseman Sean Burroughs and rolled into left field for a single. Neifi Perez followed with a single against Luther Hackman (2-2) before Ray Durham struck out. Mike Matthews came on and gave up Snow’s grounder up the middle that scored Torrealba.

Felix Rodriguez (5-0) got the last out of the eighth inning and Tim Worrell pitched the ninth for his 20th save in 24 chances.

St. Louis 4, Chicago 1 -- Woody Williams outpitched Mark Prior and Eduardo Perez hit a three-run homer at Chicago.

St. Louis took two of three from the Cubs, who are two games behind the first-place Cardinals in the Central Division. Chicago has lost nine of 12.

Williams (11-3) limited the Cubs to six hits over 7 2/3 innings. He gave up only one hit through four and didn’t allow a baserunner to reach second base until the seventh.

Perez drove a 2-and-2 pitch from Prior (8-4) over the left-field fence in the second inning. Perez started at third base for Scott Rolen, who was held out because of stiffness in his back.

Milwaukee 3, Colorado 1 -- After winning the first two games of the series at Miller Park, the Rockies were looking for their first road sweep since June 15-17, 2001, at Cincinnati. But with two out in the seventh inning, Richie Sexson hit a full-count pitch from Jose Jimenez (0-5) for a two-run double off the right-field wall to end a 1-1 tie.

Ben Sheets (7-6) gave up one run and four hits over seven innings. He struck out six and gave up an intentional walk. Mike DeJean struck out two in the ninth for his 17th save in 23 chances.

New York 7, Cincinnati 5 -- Tony Clark led off the ninth inning with a long homer to center field, completing a late rally that gave the Mets their first series sweep this season.

Ty Wigginton’s two-out, two-run double against closer Scott Williamson tied the score, 5-5, in the eighth. Clark hit his 10th homer, against Brian Reith (1-1), to help secure the Mets’ first three-game sweep at Cincinnati since 1991.

The Reds wasted a strong performance by Paul Wilson and lost for the 11th time in 15 games. Wilson pitched seven innings against his former team before leaving with a 5-2 lead.

Pittsburgh 8, Houston 3 -- Aramis Ramirez homered and drove in four runs to support Jeff D’Amico’s four-hitter and the Pirates completed a three-game sweep at Pittsburgh. The Astros lost for the ninth time in 12 games.

The Pirates hadn’t swept the Astros in a three-game series since May 28-30, 1999. Since then, the Pirates had lost 39 of 62 against Houston.

Florida 6, Philadelphia 3 -- Mark Redman (7-3) pitched his second consecutive complete game and Juan Encarnacion homered and drove in three runs to help the Marlins complete their first sweep at Philadelphia.

Redman (7-3) gave up seven hits, struck out six and walked one. He threw a five-hitter to beat the Braves, 6-3, in his last start June 30.

Jack McKeon got his 800th career victory, becoming the 63rd manager to reach the milestone.