NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Galarraga Ends Slump in Grand Style

Andres Galarraga, the National League batting champion last season, ended a troubling slump with a grand slam in the seventh inning Saturday, powering the Colorado Rockies to a 7-3 victory over the Montreal Expos at Denver.

The Rockies rallied from a 3-2 deficit with a five-run seventh, capped by Galarraga’s blow, to extend their winning streak to three games.

Roberto Mejia led off the seventh with a triple against Ken Hill (2-1) and scored on Walt Weiss’ single. The Rockies loaded the bases and Galarraga cleared them with his home run against reliever Mel Rojas. Galarraga, who played seven seasons with the Expos, has hit two of his four grand slams against his former team.

“I’m sure I get more emotional when I play against Montreal,” Galarraga said. “I think everybody--when you get traded or released--wants to play harder against their old team, to show them they made a mistake.”

Galarraga, who hit .370 last season, had singled in the sixth to end an 0-for-16 slump that dropped his average to .275. He struck out eight times during his hitless streak.

Steve Reed (1-1) pitched a hitless seventh for the victory, and Bruce Ruffin and Darren Holmes finished up.

New York 9, Houston 1--Dwight Gooden, sidelined since opening day because of a toe injury, pitched six shutout innings for the Mets at New York.

Gooden (2-0) gave up four hits, struck out five and walked three. He had not pitched since hurting himself in a victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Mike Maddux went three innings for his second save of the season. He gave up one hit, a solo home run by Steve Finley in the eighth.

Todd Hundley, David Segui and Ryan Thompson each drove in two runs. The Mets had 11 hits against three pitchers.

Atlanta 4, Chicago 1--Kent Mercker, pitching eight days after his no-hitter against the Dodgers, came back with seven strong innings at Chicago.

Mercker (2-0), the Braves’ No. 5 starter, gave up one run and six hits--including a single by Ryne Sandberg, the Cubs’ second batter of the game. He struck out eight and walked three.

The victory improved the Braves’ record to 11-1 overall, 9-0 on the road. Greg McMichael worked the ninth for his third save.

Terry Pendleton doubled to left-center after a single by Ryan Klesko and walk to Fred McGriff in the fourth, giving the Braves a 2-0 lead against Willie Banks (1-2).

Florida 5, San Francisco 3--Bret Barberie hit a home run and pinch-hitter Jerry Browne added a run-scoring single in the eighth inning for the Marlins at Miami.

With the score tied, 3-3, and one out in the eighth, Barberie homered against Rich Monteleone (1-1) to give the Marlins the lead. One out later, Kurt Abbott doubled and scored on Browne’s pinch-hit single to make the score 5-3.

Marlin reliever Jeremy Hernandez (1-1) gave up a leadoff triple in the eighth to Matt Williams, but stranded him at third by striking out Barry Bonds and retiring Royce Clayton and Kirt Manwaring.

Bryan Harvey gave up two singles in the ninth but got Williams on a groundout for his third save.

Philadelphia 6, Cincinnati 4--Danny Jackson pitched 6 2/3 strong innings and Darren Daulton hit a home run for the Phillies at Philadelphia.

Jackson (1-0) gave up two runs and six hits, and got his 1,000th strikeout by fanning Brian Dorsett in the second inning. He walked three and struck out four.

Jackson left in the seventh with runners on first and second. Heathcliff Slocumb came in and threw a wild pitch, advancing both runners, but struck out Reggie Sanders to end the inning.

Doug Jones got the final three outs for his third save, despite giving up a run-scoring single to Kevin Mitchell in the ninth.

San Diego 8, St. Louis 2--Wally Whitehurst lasted beyond the fifth inning for the first time this season and Dave Staton hit a two-run home run at St. Louis to help the Padres end a six-game losing streak.

Whitehurst (1-2), who had not pitched more than 4 2/3 innings in his two previous starts, gave up one run and seven hits in ending the Cardinals’ three-game winning streak.

Gregg Jefferies went four for five with a double for St. Louis.