NEW YORK, 8 May 2004 — Wade Miller pitched 7 1/3 shutout innings for the Houston Astros to complete a three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 5-2 victory in the National League (NL) Thursday.
The Astros (18-10) have the best record in the NL. The Pirates lost for the 13th time in 14 games in Houston. Miller (4-2) retired 15 of the first 16 batters he faced in his longest outing of the season. He allowed six hits while striking out seven and walking none.
Three relievers combined to complete a nine-hitter but the Pirates scored twice in the ninth to spoil the shutout. Kris Benson (3-1) took the loss. He allowed five runs on eight hits with five walks over 5 2/3 innings. Morgan Ensberg had a two-run single in a four-run fourth inning for the Astros. The other runs in the frame came on an error and a wild pitch. Jeff Bagwell added two hits and an RBI to the Houston attack while Ensberg also had two hits.
In other NL action Thursday:
In Atlanta, Khalil Greene and Jay Payton cracked first-inning homers to power the San Diego Padres to a 7-3 win over the Braves. Brian Lawrence (4-2) went seven innings, allowing two runs on five hits with eight strikeouts and one walk. Payton drove in three runs for San Diego while Mark Loretta and Brian Giles both had three hits.
In Philadelphia, Hector Luna blasted a three-run homer in a five-run first inning as the St Louis Cardinals eased past the Phillies 7-4. Jeff Suppan (3-3) went six innings for the win, allowing four runs on six hits. Randy Wolf (2-2) had his 21-inning scoreless streak snapped after giving up six runs, two earned, on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings. Jim Thome and Pat Burrell homered for Philadelphia.
In Chicago, Derrek Lee collected five hits and five RBI to help the Cubs crush the Arizona Diamondbacks 11-3. Lee’s hits included a three-run homer that helped Matt Clement (5-1) win his fifth straight game. Clement allowed three runs on seven hits over seven innings.
In Montreal, Livan Hernandez pitched a complete game five-hitter as the Expos overcame the Colorado Rockies 3-1. Hernandez (2-2) struck out seven batters and walked one in pitching his 32nd career complete game, and the first of the season by an Expo.
In Miami, Shawn Green clubbed two homers and drove in four runs to steer the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 9-4 victory over the Florida Marlins. Kazuhisa Ishii (5-1) allowed two runs and four hits over 6 2/3 innings despite walking five batters.
In Cincinnati, Ken Griffey Jr homered and drove in five runs as the Reds defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 9-6. Todd Jones (2-1) picked up the final out of the seventh inning to claim the win. Danny Graves pitched the ninth for his 12th save of the season.
In New York, Mike Piazza homered in the bottom of the 11th inning to nudge the Mets to a 2-1 triumph over the San Francisco Giants. David Weathers (3-1) recorded the last out for the victory. Jim Brower (0-2) allowed one run on one hit over 1 2/3 innings.
Red Sox’s Martinez Keeps Up Indian Sign Over Cleveland
Pedro Martinez maintained his Indian sign over host Cleveland Thursday, tossing seven solid innings to guide the Boston Red Sox to a 5-2 victory in the American League (AL). Martinez (4-2) allowed two runs on four hits, three of which were in the first inning, while striking out eight batters and walking three.
The Red Sox pitcher improved to 11-1 in his career against the Indians. Martinez has never lost a decision at Jacob’s Field where he has a 6-0 record.
Alan Embree and Keith Foulke each pitched a scoreless inning to complete the five-hitter for Boston. Foulke earned his sixth save in six chances with a perfect ninth. Boston were on a five-game losing streak before overcoming the Tribe Wednesday. Pokey Reese drove in the winning run Thursday with a double in the seventh. C.C. Sabathia (1-1) gave up four runs on eight hits over 6 2/3 innings.
Matt Lawton homered for the Tribe on Martinez’s opening pitch while Victor Martinez also drove in a run in the first inning with a groundout.
In other AL games:
In Anaheim, Jose Guillen thumped a three-run homer and Aaron Sele pitched six strong innings to lead the Angels to a 7-3 win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Sele (1-0) allowed three runs on eight hits with two strikeouts and two walks. Vladimir Guererro drove in two runs for the Angels.
In Seattle, Freddy Garcia tossed seven solid innings for his first victory of the season as the Mariners edged the Minnesota Twins 2-1.
In Oakland, Rich Harden survived a shaky start to pitch 7 2/3 strong innings as the Athletics defeated New York 7-4 to end the eight-game winning streak of the Yankees.
