Milton Flirts With No-Hitter in 3-2 Win

Eric Milton turned his head, saw center fielder Doug Glanville stumble and knew his bid for a no-hitter was over at Philadelphia.

Two outs later, Milton lost his shutout and a chance for his 12th win. Pat Burrell made sure the Philadelphia Phillies didn’t lose the game.

Milton pitched eight hitless innings before Michael Barrett blooped a double just in front of Glanville’s outstretched glove, and the Phillies beat the Chicago Cubs, 3-2, Sunday on Burrell’s run-scoring single in the ninth.

“I thought it would be trouble,” Milton said of Barrett’s hit. “I saw Dougie stumble there. I had a pretty good idea it would drop. I still had three outs to get. That’s a tough task. I’m seeing the replay in my head.”

Philadelphia led, 2-0, when Barrett was jammed by an 0-and-1 fastball leading off the ninth, Milton’s 98th pitch of the game. Glanville, who entered as a defensive replacement for Ricky Ledee in the eighth, at first broke back on the ball, then charged in and just missed an attempt for a diving catch.

“I think I froze,” said Glanville, who was booed by the sellout crowd of 44,539 as he came off the field in the ninth and when he batted in the bottom of the inning. “It hung up there a little bit. I thought I had a chance. Unfortunately, I fell short.”

Milton then fanned pinch-hitters Jose Macias and Alex Gonzalez, giving him a season-high 12 strikeouts, but Mark Grudzielanek singled and Corey Patterson doubled off the wall in left-center, tying the score and chasing the left-hander.

St. Louis 6, San Francisco 0 -- Matt Morris threw a seven-hitter for his seventh career shutout and the Cardinals took advantage of Jerome Williams’ wildness at St. Louis.

The teams’ big stars, Barry Bonds and Albert Pujols, got the day off.

Pujols has a sore heel and is 0 for 7 against Williams. Giant Manager Felipe Alou maximized rest for Bonds, considering their next game is tonight in San Diego.

Yadier Molina’s two-run single was the only hit in a three-run fifth inning against Williams (9-7), who walked three straight and also issued an intentional walk in the inning.

Houston 9, Milwaukee 1 -- Pete Munro pitched seven shutout innings and Mike Lamb drove in three runs with two doubles at Houston.

The Astros have won four of their last five games, improving to 5-5 since Phil Garner replaced Jimy Williams as manager at the All-Star break.

The Astros had 12 hits, five of them doubles.

Doug Davis (9-9) gave up six runs and nine hits in six innings for Milwaukee, 3-8 since the All-Star break. At the plate, Davis went 0 for 2 and is 0 for 42 this season.

Pittsburgh 6, Cincinnati 5 -- Pinch-hitter Rob Mackowiak drove in the go-ahead run with a double in the fifth inning, helping the Pirates come from behind and complete a three-game sweep at Pittsburgh.

Tike Redman hit a three-run homer for the Pirates, who rallied from a 5-1 deficit to win for the eighth time in their last 10 games.

Pittsburgh has also won 14 of its last 15 at home.

Atlanta 4, New York 3 -- Fielding errors by rookies David Wright and Kaz Matsui led to three unearned runs for Atlanta, and Mike Hampton threw six strong innings for the Braves at New York.

J.D. Drew hit his 24th homer for the Braves, who have taken over first place in the NL East with 12 wins in their last 16 games.

Wright, called up Wednesday from triple-A Norfolk, made his second error in four games at third base and the Braves took advantage by scoring twice in the second against Steve Trachsel (9-7).

Montreal 6, Florida 4 -- Livan Hernandez threw six hitless innings at Montreal and came within two outs of his second straight complete game.

Hernandez didn’t allow a hit until Mike Lowell’s double on the first pitch of the seventh.

Hernandez then gave up two more hits in that inning to lose his shutout.