Leyland Overwhelmed By Triumph No. 1,000

Jim Leyland’s gruff exterior was no match for the emotional impact of his 1,000th victory as a manager.

After Brian Bohanon had pitched the Colorado Rockies to a 6-4 victory over the San Diego Padres on Thursday at Denver, giving the skipper No. 1,000, Leyland choked up.

“I really wasn’t worried about that,” he said. “I was more worried about getting win No. 3 for our team.

“I guess I’m the 43rd guy or something to have that many. Obviously, I have too many losses [1,046]. But that’s a lot of hard work, by a lot of players, and I appreciate that.”

Leyland, finding it hard to talk, finally waved reporters from his office, saying, “I’m done.”

Leyland, in his first season as the Rockies’ manager after stints with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Florida Marlins, ranks 45th on baseball’s all-time list. Only three other active managers--Tony La Russa, Bobby Cox and Joe Torre--have reached 1,000 victories.

Leyland could thank Bohanon, who pitched no-hit ball for 5 1/3 innings and helped his cause with an RBI single.

Bohanon lost his no-hitter in the sixth when Eric Owens lined a two-run double into left-center.

Bohanon (2-0), who signed a free-agent contract with the Rockies last November, went 7 1/3 innings, giving up only three hits, one a two-run homer by Tony Gwynn in the eighth.

Milwaukee 9, Montreal 4--Mark Loretta went two for four with a two-run homer and four RBIs at Montreal as the Brewers recovered after squandering an early four-run lead.

Geoff Jenkins singled in the lead run with one out in the seventh and Loretta hit a two-run homer in the eighth.

Scott Karl (1-0) gave up four runs on eight hits in six innings and got the first RBI of his career with a double in the second.

San Francisco 5, Houston 2--Barry Bonds had a run-scoring double and Chris Brock gave up two runs in 6 2/3 innings at San Francisco as the Giants avoided being swept in the three-game series.

Bonds, who began the day leading the league with 11 RBIs, doubled in the first against Sean Bergman for the Giants’ first run. Brent Mayne added a run-scoring groundout in the fourth after center fielder Carl Everett had dropped a fly ball for a three-base error, and Charlie Hayes had an RBI single in the sixth.

Ramon Martinez added a two-run homer in the seventh, his first major league home run and RBIs. He also had two singles and scored twice.

Brock (2-0) struck out five while giving up five hits, two of them homers by Bergman and Bill Spiers.

Florida 11, New York 4--Mark Kotsay drove in three runs at New York as the Marlins ended a four-game losing streak while ending the Mets’ five-game winning streak.

Pinch-hitter Bruce Aven hit his first major league home run and Preston Wilson also connected for Florida.