Vizcaino Is a Big Hit for Astros

The Houston Astros were on the brink and they knew it. Then Jose Vizcaino came up with a big hit that kept them from losing more ground in the NL Central.

Vizcaino pinch-hit in the seventh inning and singled in two runs to lead the Astros over a lineup of San Francisco substitutes, 2-1, Wednesday at Houston.

“If we lost today, we were in serious trouble, but we live to fight another day,” Craig Biggio said. “Obviously, that was a huge hit.”

Houston, which remained one game behind the division-leading Chicago Cubs, stopped a losing streak at four games, which had tied a season high. A defeat would have dropped the Astros two games back with four to play.

“This was huge for us. It was make or break for us,” said Billy Wagner, who closed with a perfect ninth for his 44th save in 47 chances. “We’ve got to win out and hope they lose one or two. If they win out and we win out, then so be it.”

Roy Oswalt (10-5) won his fourth consecutive start since coming off the disabled list, giving up three hits in eight innings.

The Giants, who have already clinched the NL West, rested many of their regulars.

Chicago 8, Cincinnati 0 -- Sammy Sosa tied Mickey Mantle for 10th place on the home run list, and Shawn Estes pitched a four-hit shutout at Chicago.

“You want to play in October, you’ve got to win,” said Sosa, who started the decisive rally with his 536th homer. “We don’t have that much room.”

“Dusty [Baker] has said all along that our hot streak hasn’t even hit yet,” Estes said. “Hopefully we’re in the middle of it right now, and we can continue to play this way through the playoffs.”

The Cubs haven’t been alone in first place this late in the season since 1989, the last time they won a division title. They haven’t been to the playoffs since they went as the NL wild card in 1998.

If they can hold on for four more games, they’re headed back.

St. Louis 8, Milwaukee 4 -- J.D. Drew homered, Matt Morris pitched seven solid innings and the Cardinals staved off elimination at Milwaukee.

The Cardinals stayed 3 1/2 games behind Chicago in the NL Central race with three games to go.

St. Louis won for the seventh time in eight games. Milwaukee finished 31-50 at Miller Park, tying last season’s mark for the worst home record in team history.

Morris (11-8) has dominated the Brewers throughout his career, going 10-2 with a 2.37 ERA against them. In three starts against Milwaukee this season, he was 2-0.

Arizona 6, Colorado 3 -- Randy Johnson beat Colorado for the eighth consecutive time, and Danny Bautista homered twice to back him at Denver.

Johnson (6-8) gave up two runs and seven hits and is 13-4 in 18 starts against the Rockies.

Jose Jimenez (2-10) gave up four runs and seven hits. Juan Uribe hit a two-run homer, and Todd Helton had a solo shot for the Rockies.

Atlanta 9, Montreal 1 -- Russ Ortiz gave up three hits in five scoreless innings at Atlanta to win his 21st game.

Ortiz, who leads the NL in wins, walked four and struck out two. He also singled, drove in a run and scored another.

New York 5, Pittsburgh 3 -- Steve Trachsel won his career-high 16th game, helped by Timo Perez’s three hits and two RBIs at New York.

Mike Stanton pitched the ninth for his fifth save in seven chances.