Timing Is Absolutely Grand for Giants

L.A. Times Archives

July 30, 1997 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

Mark Lewis put the game and his team’s position in perspective Tuesday night after his grand slam off Greg McMichael in the seventh inning gave San Francisco a 5-2 victory over New York and kept the Giants in first place in the NL West by themselves for yet another couple of days.

“The Dodgers are playing well, but we just need to play hard and worry about us,” said Lewis, who took a 3-and-0 pitch for a strike before unloading on McMichael (7-8) at San Francisco.

“We still control our own destiny.”

The Giants have been in first place alone in the division since June 11 and are one game ahead of the Dodgers.

Lewis’ homer--his first grand slam--made a winner of Shawn Estes (14-4).

The Mets’ Brian Bohanon carried a six-hitter and a 2-0 lead into the seventh, but Stan Javier drew a one-out walk and Barry Bonds doubled with two out to make it 2-1. McMichael (7-8) replaced Bohanon.

Jeff Kent’s walk and Glenallen Hill’s infield hit loaded the bases for Lewis.

“I just wanted to make him get the pitch up,” Lewis said of his confrontation with McMichael. “He throws a sinker, and I just wanted him to get it up.”

When McMichael did, the Mets lost.

Estes gave up two runs on three first-inning hits before settling down. He gave up five hits, walked two and struck out seven in eight innings. He gave up a walk to start the ninth, and Rod Beck got the last three outs for his 32nd save, tops in the major leagues.

Atlanta 7, Chicago 2--Andruw Jones had three hits, including a two-run homer, for the Braves in a win at Atlanta.

Jones also made two great catches, sliding along the grass for one and leaping to snag another drive against the wall. He had a stolen base and made a great throw to halt a runner from advancing an extra base.

Though Jones is only eight for 47 in his last 12 games, five of those hits have been home runs.

Rookie Kevin Millwood (2-2) pitched six strong innings and Chipper Jones added a three-run homer for the Braves, who have an eight-game lead in the NL East, their largest of the season.

The Cubs, shut out in their previous two games, finally broke a scoreless streak of 23 2/3 innings when Rey Sanchez scored on Dave Hansen’s two-out single in the fifth.

Montreal 3, Colorado 0--Pedro Martinez pitched a five-hitter, his fourth shutout of the year, and the Expos won at Denver.

Martinez (12-5) struck out 13--including Andres Galarraga four times--and walked one in throwing his major league-high ninth complete game of the year. The Expos lead the majors with 20 complete games.

With the shutout, he lowered his earned-run average from 1.91 to an NL-best 1.80. He outdueled Jamey Wright (5-7), who gave up three runs and seven hits in eight innings.

Colorado’s Larry Walker singled in the ninth inning to end an 0-for-15 slump, and he finished the game at .382 for the Rockies, who were shut out for the third time this season at home. They were blanked only three times in four previous seasons in Colorado.

Florida 7, Cincinnati 1--Moises Alou hit two home runs and Alex Fernandez pitched eight strong innings in helping the Marlins win at home and end a three-game losing streak.

Bobby Bonilla had a two-run homer, an RBI double and a single for the Marlins. Fernandez (12-8) gave up one run and seven hits, walked five and struck out seven. He stranded 10 runners.

Florida ended an offensive slump in the first inning with four consecutive two-out hits, including two home runs, for a 4-0 lead against Mike Morgan (3-9).

After Gary Sheffield’s infield single, Bonilla followed with his 11th homer. Darren Daulton, making his first start in Miami for the Marlins, doubled and scored on Alou’s homer.

Houston 5, St. Louis 4--Craig Biggio hit a two-run homer and Shane Reynolds continued his comeback from knee surgery with a strong performance, leading the Astros to a win at Houston.

Biggio went three for four, with his homer, an infield hit and a triple, after which he scored on James Mouton’s single in the seventh inning.

Reynolds (6-6), made his fourth start since being activated on July 14 after recovering from knee surgery. He gave up one run on six hits in seven innings.

Philadelphia 6, San Diego 5--Kevin Stocker hit a three-run homer, and the lowly Phillies got their first series sweep of the season by winning at San Diego.

The Phillies have the worst record in the majors (32-72).

Mike Lieberthal went three for four and scored twice for Philadelphia, which won a series in San Diego for the first time since a two-game sweep in April 1993.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

Player: Andrew Jones

Team: Atlanta

Performance: 3 for 4, HR

Team’s Result: Win

Player: Bobby Bonilla

Team: Florida

Performance: 3 for 4, HR, 3 RBIs

Team’s Result: Win

Player: Craig Biggio