Reds Still Getting Slammed by Braves

Jeff Blauser hit Atlanta’s ninth grand slam, matching the National League record, and the Braves ruined Jack McKeon’s return to managing by beating the Cincinnati Reds, 7-3, Friday night at Cincinnati.

McKeon, out of managing since 1990, replaced Ray Knight earlier Friday as the fading Reds decided to change directions. Cincinnati has lost six of seven and is 10 1/2 games out of first place in the National League Central.

Andruw Jones, Chipper Jones and Fred McGriff added solo homers and John Smoltz (9-9) pitched a two-hitter as the Braves remained unbeaten in six games against the Reds this season.

Blauser’s second grand slam of the season off Pete Schourek (5-6) gave the Braves a 4-0 lead in the second inning and matched the NL record shared with three other teams. Chicago (1929), San Diego (1995) and Montreal (1996) also hit nine in a season.

The major-league record is 11 grand slams by Seattle and Baltimore last season.

Smoltz gave up a three-run homer in the fifth to Bret Boone, but allowed only one other hit as he remained unbeaten in his last eight starts against the Reds. The right-hander struck out 10 and walked four in his fourth complete game.

New York 4, San Diego 2--Carl Everett hit a two-out, two-run single in the eighth inning at San Diego and the Mets ended the Padres’ winning streak at five.

The Mets’ three-run eighth included two errors by two-time NL Gold Glove third baseman Ken Caminiti and back-to-back two-out walks by reliever Tim Worrell (3-7). The Mets won for the eighth time in nine games.

A magnitude-4.9 earthquake that was centered in northeastern San Diego County was felt at Qualcomm Stadium in the bottom of the fourth inning. Many fans noticed the quake, but the game was not affected.

Houston 5, Montreal 2--At Houston, Darryl Kile won his seventh consecutive decision , matching Atlanta’s Greg Maddux for most victories in the NL, as the Astros won for the seventh game in a row.

Kile (14-3) lowered his earned-run average to 1.94, allowing only one earned run in his fifth complete game. He gave up seven hits, struck out eight and walked one.

The Astros last won seven in a row from June 29-July 5, 1996. The team record is 10 in a row, accomplished most recently in 1989.

Jeff Bagwell hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning that put Houston ahead 4-2.

With two outs, Jeff Juden (11-4) hit Chuck Carr with a pitch. Carr shouted at Juden as he went down to first base. Bagwell followed with his 27th homer.

The Astros got another run in the sixth when Thomas Howard singled and scored from third base on Juden’s wild pitch.

Howard bumped Juden, who hit two batters in the game, as he crossed the plate and the two players stared at each other until they were broken up. Juden walked the next batter, Kile, and was removed.

Colorado 9, Chicago 3--Dante Bichette homered, doubled and drove in four runs, and Frank Castillo defeated the team that traded him at Colorado.

Castillo (7-9) won for the first time since being traded to the Rockies July 15. His first start for Colorado also came against the Cubs, and he got a no-decision at Wrigley Field.

Castillo, traded for minor-league pitcher Matt Pool, allowed three runs and 11 hits in 8 1/3 innings.

Andres Galarraga and Vinny Castilla also homered for the Rockies, and rookie Neifi Perez had his first four-hit game as Colorado won for the fourth time in five games.

Sammy Sosa homered and Kevin Orie had three hits for the Cubs.

Kevin Foster (10-6) lasted only two innings, matching his shortest outing of the year. He allowed six runs, and has a 15.33 ERA in four starts against the Rockies.

Florida 5, St. Louis 4--Rookie Livan Hernandez won his fourth consecutive start and Charles Johnson had a two-run home run at St. Louis

Hernandez, 22, a Cuban defector who signed with the Marlins in January 1996, didn’t seem bothered by the 99-degree heat at game time as he allowed five hits and two runs in 6 2/3 innings. Hernandez (4-0) struck out five, walked two and lowered his ERA to 2.89.

Johnson had a run-scoring single in the second and hit a two-run homer, his 11th, off Alan Benes in the sixth. He’s batting .392 this month with five home runs and 13 RBIs.

The victory gave the Marlins a 28-24 road record, matching last season’s win total. That’s a dubious accomplishment since they were tied for the worst road record in the league with Colorado at 28-53.

The Cardinals have lost four of five. Hernandez shut them out until Royce Clayton, mired in a 2-for-31 slump, hit a two-run homer with two outs in the seventh.

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Bests of the Day

BATTING

Player: Jeff Blauser

Team: Atlanta

Performance: 4th career grand slam

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Dante Bichette

Team: Colorado

Performance: double, homer, 4 RBIs

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Mike Piazza

Team: Dodgers

Performance: 3 for 4, homer, 4 RBIs

Team’s Result: Win

PITCHING

Player: John Smoltz

Team: Atlanta

Performance: 9 innings, 2 hits, 3 runs

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Darryl Kile

Team: Houston

Performance: 9 innings, 1 run

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Chan Ho Park

Team: Dodgers

Performance: 8 innings, four hits, one run

Team’s Result: Win