Bay Fuels Pirates’ 18-Inning Victory

Jason Bay became the first Pirates player in 50 years to homer in five consecutive games, then ran over Houston catcher Eric Munson to score the winning run on Jose Bautista’s short sacrifice fly in the 18th inning as host Pittsburgh beat the Astros, 8-7, on Saturday night.

The game was the longest in Pittsburgh since PNC Park opened in 2001 and the Pirates’ longest at home since a 4-3, 18-inning win over the Cubs on Aug. 6, 1989. The Astros beat Atlanta last year in an 18-inning National League playoff game, the longest postseason game in history.

The Astros lost their fifth in a row and have dropped 16 of 22 since starting the season 19-9.

New York 7, Florida 4 -- Tom Glavine carried a perfect game into the sixth inning before giving up a hit and helped the Mets avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season by throwing 7 2/3 innings at Miami.

Glavine (8-2) struck out nine and walked none in winning his 283rd game, tying him with Jim Kaat for 28th all-time.

San Francisco 4, Colorado 1 -- Barry Bonds went without a home run for his fifth straight game, going 0 for 3 with a walk and a run in the Giants’ victory over the Rockies at San Francisco.

The slugger remained at 714 home runs a week after hitting his last homer, and is one away from moving past Babe Ruth and into sole possession of second place behind Hank Aaron’s 755.

Atlanta 2, Chicago 1 -- Horacio Ramirez made his second start of the season a strong one, giving up seven hits and a run over seven innings to lead the Braves at Chicago. Marcus Giles hit a two-run double in the second inning for all the scoring Ramirez (1-0) would need.

St. Louis 4, San Diego 3 -- Scott Rolen hit a two-run double in the decisive third inning to lead the Cardinals at San Diego.

Although the Padres lost for the eighth time in 11 games, they kept Albert Pujols from homering for the second straight game. Pujols, who leads the majors with 23 homers, was 0 for 4 and popped up with the bases loaded in the third.

Milwaukee 9, Philadelphia 6 -- Rickie Weeks and Bill Hall homered in the eighth inning to help the Brewers win their third straight road game. Carlos Lee also homered, and Hall drove in four runs for the Brewers, who are 5-0 against the Phillies this season.

Arizona 7, Cincinnati 0 -- Juan Cruz scattered four hits over six shutout innings, and Orlando Hudson hit his first National League home run for the Diamondbacks at Cincinnati.