Byrd Is a Big Hit for Braves in More Ways Than One

With his parents in the stands for the first time this season, along with a son eager to ask about his hitting, Paul Byrd put on a show.

Byrd gave up one run in six innings and hit a pair of run-scoring singles off Jason Schmidt, leading the Atlanta Braves past the San Francisco Giants, 9-3, Saturday at Atlanta.

“It gives me a little bragging rights,” Byrd said.

Rafael Furcal had four hits and four runs batted in for the Braves, who have won six games in a row. They moved a season-high 22 games over .500 and are 15-1-3 in their last 19 series.

The two hits and two RBIs were career highs for Byrd, who entered 19 for 129 (.147) in his career. His 8-year-old son, Grayson, always wants to know how he did at the plate.

“No matter how I pitch, good or bad, that’s the first question,” Byrd said. “Did I get a hit?”

Schmidt (15-5) gave up six runs and a season-high 10 hits in only 3 2/3 innings but had 10 strikeouts.

San Diego 5, Montreal 2 -- Jake Peavy won his sixth consecutive decision, and Phil Nevin homered and drove in three runs for the Padres at Montreal.

Peavy (11-3), unbeaten in nine starts since the All-Star break, held the Expos to five hits and two runs in 6 2/3 innings. It was the 18th time in 20 starts that he has given up two earned runs or fewer.

Houston 7, Chicago 6 -- Roger Clemens pitched six innings for his 324th victory, and the Astros made the most of three Cub errors at Chicago.

Clemens (14-4) gave up five runs and eight hits as Houston won for the 10th time in 13 games.

Staked to an early 5-0 lead, Clemens tied Don Sutton and Nolan Ryan for 12th place on the career wins list.

Florida 4, Colorado 3 -- Former Dodger Juan Encarnacion hit a two-run single in the first inning and a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth at Miami to extend the Rockies’ losing streak to six.

With Colorado leading, 3-2, in the eighth, Jeff Conine singled off Steve Reed (3-4) leading off and Encarnacion followed with his 14th homer.

St. Louis 6, Pittsburgh 4 -- Reggie Sanders hit a three-run homer at Pittsburgh, and the Cardinals matched last year’s total with their 85th win.

Jim Edmonds hit his fifth homer in as many games for St. Louis, a major league-best 85-44.

Arizona 6, Cincinnati 3 -- Casey Fossum combined with four relievers on a four-hitter, and Juan Brito singled home the go-ahead run in the seventh inning at Cincinnati to lead the Diamondbacks to consecutive wins for the first time since Aug. 3-4.

Philadelphia 4, Milwaukee 3 -- Placido Polanco homered off Mike Adams (2-2) in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Phillies pushed the Brewers’ losing streak to 10. The Phillies are 5-0 against the Brewers this season.

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NL Wild-Card Race

*--* W L GB Chicago 71 58 -- San Diego 70 59 1 San Francisco 71 60 1 Florida 65 62 5 Houston 66 63 5

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