Arizona Streak Reaches Eight

Lyle Overbay doesn’t think he ever hit an opposite-field home run off the foul pole before in his life, but that’s the way things go when you’re on a winning streak.

Overbay’s high, two-run homer gave Arizona an early lead and Elmer Dessens earned his first victory since May 25 as the Diamondbacks won their eighth in a row, 3-2, over the Houston Astros on Wednesday at Phoenix.

“I think Overbay was probably as shocked as anyone that it didn’t go foul,” Houston catcher Brad Ausmus said.

The Diamondback rookie stood and watched the ball slicing toward the bullpen down the left-field line.

“I thought it was foul,” Overbay said. “I never left the box, and then I thought, ‘I better start running.’ ”

The Diamondbacks swept consecutive three-game home series from the Astros and Cincinnati to build their longest winning streak since they won eight in a row last Aug. 9-17.

Five of the eight victories came against Houston.

“They’re going to be a very good team when they get Johnson and Schilling back,” Ausmus said.

Randy Johnson, recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery, and Curt Schilling, out with a broken right hand, are expected to return shortly after the All-Star break.

“Obviously we’re very happy winning every game on the home stand,” Arizona Manager Bob Brenly said, “but more importantly, we’re playing better ball. We’re doing things right. We’re making good plays on defense, pitchers are getting the guys we need to get, and we’ve been catching a few breaks.”

New York 6, Florida 3 -- Rookie Jose Reyes drove in three runs, and Steve Trachsel pitched seven sharp innings and had a sacrifice fly at New York as the Mets ended their four-game losing streak.

Reyes had an RBI single in the second and a two-run single with the bases loaded in the sixth inning to make it 5-3. He has driven in 11 of his 14 runs with the bases loaded. Reyes has a single, triple and a home run in his four at-bats in that situation.

Closer Armando Benitez was booed loudly by the Shea Stadium crowd when he relieved David Weathers with the bases loaded and none out in the top of the eighth inning. But Benitez was given a standing ovation after striking out Derrek Lee and Alex Gonzalez, and getting Miguel Cabrera to fly out to right.

St. Louis 9, Cincinnati 6 -- Bo Hart, Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen homered in the first inning for the Cardinals at St. Louis.

Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 476th homer, passing Stan Musial and Willie Stargell for 21st place. Griffey’s three-run shot in the Reds’ first was his first homer in 92 at-bats, and his eighth of the year overall.

Philadelphia 8, Atlanta 1 -- Vicente Padilla pitched four-hit ball over seven innings at Atlanta for his third win over the Braves this season.

Greg Maddux (6-7) lasted only five innings, giving up seven hits and six runs -- four earned -- to surpass his loss total for last season.

Milwaukee 12, Chicago 6 -- Brooks Kieschnick led off the 10th inning with a pinch-hit homer and Geoff Jenkins added a three-run homer at Chicago.

Kieschnick, used both as a reliever and a pinch-hitter by the Brewers, homered off Cub reliever Todd Wellemeyer (1-1).

Pittsburgh 6, Montreal 5 -- Pinch-hitter Kenny Lofton drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly as the Pirates scored three unearned runs in the ninth inning at Montreal.

San Diego 7, Colorado 6 -- Rookie Miguel Ojeda hit his first big league homer and drove in four runs at San Diego. The Padres ended the Rockies’ four-game winning streak.