Padres Let Another One Get Away

Rookie Brad Eldred’s third consecutive double drove in the winning run in the ninth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates overcame three San Diego homers to beat the West Division-leading Padres, 9-8, Wednesday night at Pittsburgh.

With Rob Mackowiak on first base after drawing a walk, Eldred hit a two-out line drive into the gap in right-center.

Center fielder Dave Roberts, who entered in the top of the inning, slid to his knees to try to cut the ball off, but it skidded past him to score Mackowiak.

Akinori Otsuka (1-4), the Padres’ third reliever after ineffective starter Chan Ho Park, appeared confused by what to throw Eldred just before the hit, gesturing to the dugout as if to be appealing for a pitch to be called.

The Padres hit three home runs -- including a three-run shot by Eric Young in the fifth, and a two-run shot by Khalil Greene in the sixth. Young also had an RBI single during a three-run sixth that gave the Padres an 8-7 lead.

Houston 7, Arizona 0 -- Morgan Ensberg hit his 28th homer and five pitchers combined on a six-hitter at Phoenix to lead the Astros to their 15th victory in 17 games.

Ezequiel Astacio (2-4) scattered four hits, three of which never left the infield, and allowed only one runner to reach third base in five innings.

St. Louis 9, Florida 6 -- So Taguchi, two for 18 in his career as a pinch-hitter, hit a go-ahead three-run homer batting for John Mabry in the seventh inning at St. Louis. The Cardinals sent 10 batters to the plate during a four-run seventh.

Cincinnati 8, Atlanta 5 -- Adam Dunn drove in five runs with a three-run homer -- his 32nd -- and a two-run double, leading the Reds at Cincinnati.

He homered off Brave starter Horacio Ramirez (9-7) in the fourth to give the Reds a 4-2 lead. Dunn doubled off Ramirez with the bases loaded in the sixth.

Philadelphia 4, Chicago 3 -- Jimmy Rollins scored the winning run on a bases-loaded passed ball in the bottom of the ninth inning. After Pat Burrell struck out swinging, the ball got past catcher Michael Barrett. Rollins broke for home, stopped halfway down the line, then scored when Barrett threw to third.

Milwaukee 6, New York 4 -- Lyle Overbay singled home two runs in the ninth inning, and the Brewers won at Shea Stadium. The Mets’ Pedro Martinez, who left with a 4-3 lead, struck out eight in seven innings, raising his league-leading total to 163.

Colorado 3, San Francisco 2 -- Pinch-hitter J.D. Closser singled in the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning to help the Rockies win consecutive road games for the first time this season.