Garner Era Is Off to a Rocky Start

The Houston Astros started the Phil Garner era pretty much the same way they left off under former manager Jimy Williams.

Jake Peavy pitched five scoreless innings, Mark Loretta had a three-run double and the San Diego Padres spoiled Garner’s debut with a 5-1 victory Friday night at Houston.

“We’re disappointed,” the Astros’ Jeff Bagwell said. “But if anyone thought we were going to win 74 games in a row, that’s not going to happen.”

Garner, who managed Milwaukee and Detroit to a combined 708-802 record during parts of 11 seasons, replaced Williams on Wednesday, the day after Houston played host to the All-Star game.

The Astros lost for the seventh time in nine games, dropping to 44-45 and falling under .500 for the first time since they were 1-2 on April 7. Houston also fell a season-high 12 games behind National League Central-leading St. Louis, which has won 10 of 11 games.

“We just didn’t get anything rolling,” Garner said. “But I’m encouraged. I saw some good things out there tonight.”

The crowd of 39,106 obviously disagreed, booing throughout the game. Thousands of fans headed for the exits at the end of the sixth inning.

Colorado 7, San Francisco 1 -- Todd Greene hit two long homers and drove in four runs and Shawn Estes gave up seven hits over eight innings after a nearly 2 1/2-hour rain delay at Denver, lifting the Rockies to a victory over the Giants.

Greene had his third career multihomer game, Matt Holliday hit his 10th homer and Estes (9-4) won for the first time since June 23 against Milwaukee, giving the Rockies their ninth victory in 12 games.

Philadelphia 5, New York 1 -- Jim Thome hit his major league-leading 29th home run, and Kevin Millwood pitched three-hit ball for seven innings to lead the Phillies at New York.

Bobby Abreu also homered and drove in two runs for the Phillies, who bounced back from an 11-inning loss in the opener of the four-game series. Thome finished with three RBIs, and Jimmy Rollins stole two bases.

Pittsburgh 6, Florida 2 -- Kris Benson made another strong start as he apparently winds down his Pirate career, limiting the Marlins to two runs over 8 1/3 innings at Pittsburgh.

Benson (7-7), being eyed by a half-dozen contending teams as the July 31 trade deadline approaches, helped the Pirates win their eighth in a row at home.

St. Louis 7, Cincinnati 5 -- Pinch-hitter Marlon Anderson hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning at Cincinnati off Red closer Danny Graves, the major league leader in saves with 33.

Reggie Sanders hit a two-run single off Graves (1-4) to make it 5-4 before Anderson’s blast. It was Graves’ eighth blown save in 41 opportunities.

Milwaukee 3, Chicago 2 -- Pinch-hitter Brooks Kieschnick singled in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning to lead the Brewers at Chicago.

Bill Hall, who entered the game in the bottom of the first because third baseman Wes Helms had an upset stomach, singled in the seventh and advanced two bases on the same play with an easy steal of second and Matt Clement’s wild pitch.

Montreal 5, Atlanta 1 -- Jose Vidro homered and had three hits at Atlanta to help the Expos knock the Braves out of first place in the NL East.

Montreal’s John Patterson, who had been sidelined since April 27 because of a strained right groin, gave up one run, two hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings.