NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Reds Lose Two More Pitchers; Astros Win

The Cincinnati Reds lost two more starting pitchers and their five-game winning streak as Casey Candaele, Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio homered for the Houston Astros in a 6-4 victory Saturday at Cincinnati.

Candaele ended an 18-at-bat slump with a solo homer in the fifth against Don Carman (0-2) that made the score 2-2, and Bagwell hit a two-run homer later in the inning to help end Houston’s three-game losing streak. Biggio hit his homer in the ninth.

Rookie Darryl Kile (2-2) won his second consecutive start by giving up nine hits in seven innings. Jim Clancy pitched two innings for his fourth save.

Red left-hander Gino Minutelli was forced out of his first major league start in the second inning. He aggravated a groin injury on a pitch to Houston’s Eric Anthony in the second inning, and had to leave the game.

Right-hander Scott Scudder couldn’t throw between starts Saturday, and doctors diagnosed tendinitis in his right arm. The Reds put both pitchers on the 15-day disabled list and recalled relievers Kip Gross and Tim Layana from triple-A Nashville.

Scudder doesn’t recall hurting the arm on any particular pitch.

Four starting Red pitchers have been injured in the last two weeks. Left-hander Norm Charlton and right-hander Jose Rijo went on the disabled list last week. Charlton has tendinitis in his left shoulder, and Rijo suffered a broken right ankle while sliding June 20.

Chicago 6, St. Louis 4--Rookie Rick Wilkins’ three-run homer capped a six-run first inning as the Cubs ended a three-game losing streak by beating St. Louis at Chicago.

Wilkins’ homer was his fourth of the season, and all four have come in the last five games.

The Cubs, who have lost 12 of 14, ended the Cardinals’ four-game winning streak.

Les Lancaster (4-2) was the winner and Bob Tewksbury (6-4) took the loss.

Tom Pagnozzi drove in three runs for the Cardinals with a triple and a double.

New York 5, Philadelphia 0--The Mets came back after a 47-minute rain delay in New York with a four-run fifth to send the Phillies to their sixth loss in seven games.

Terry Mulholland (6-8) held the Mets to one hit in the first four innings, then got in trouble in the fifth. Mulholland has lost five consecutive starts.

Wally Whitehurst (4-4) gave up five hits and struck out four in five innings, then left after the rain delay because of tightness in his left hamstring. Jeff Innis and Alejandro Pena finished with two-hit relief.

Tom Herr and Rick Cerone opened the fourth with consecutive singles before the rain began on a hot, humid night.

Pittsburgh 2, Montreal 1--Gary Redus’ run-scoring single with two out in the ninth inning rallied the Pirates past the Expos at Montreal.

Don Slaught led off the ninth with a walk from reliever Scott Ruskin (2-2). Pinch-runner Gary Varsho was sacrificed to second by Jose Lind before scoring on Redus’ single against Barry Jones.

Neal Heaton (1-1) pitched one inning for the victory. Bill Landrum finished for his 15th save.

San Francisco 6, San Diego 4--Rookie Mark Leonard, filling in for Kevin Mitchell, hit his first home run of the season and Robby Thompson and Terry Kennedy hit consecutive homers in the ninth inning to help the Giants beat the Padres at San Diego.

Thompson hit a solo homer, his ninth homer of the season, and Kennedy followed with his second home run for a 6-3 lead. The Giants won despite being outhit, 15-8.

Trevor Wilson (4-6) picked up the victory. Dave Righetti pitched the ninth for his 10th save in 12 opportunities.

Ed Whitson (3-6) gave up four runs on six hits in five innings.