Rested Benson Makes Giant Strides

Pittsburgh Pirate Manager Gene Lamont was right when he thought some extra rest might help Kris Benson break an almost eight-week winless streak.

Benson gave up one hit in eight innings to win for the first time since July 8, as the Pirates blanked the visiting San Francisco Giants, 8-0, Tuesday night.

Benson (9-11) was 0-5 in eight starts since beating Minnesota just before the All-Star break. He was struggling with his control, which prompted Lamont to push his scheduled start back three days and give him more rest.

The right-hander gave up only an opposite-field single to Barry Bonds in the first inning. Benson walked five, struck out seven and was lifted after throwing 119 pitches. Josias Manzanillo finished the one-hitter.

“[Benson] had great stuff,” Lamont said. “He was a little wild with the walks, but that probably had to with the fact he hadn’t been out there in a while. He needed a win.”

Florida 3, St. Louis 1--Chuck Smith (3-5) gave up four hits in eight innings and struck out nine, and Antonio Alfonseca earned his major league-leading 37th save at Miami.

Mike Lowell hit a two-run homer in the first, helping stop the Cardinals’ three-game winning streak.

Cincinnati 4, Atlanta 2--Ken Griffey Jr.’s two-run single in the seventh inning put the Reds ahead and they went on to a victory at Atlanta.

Steve Parris (9-14) won his fourth consecutive start, giving up eight hits and both Atlanta runs in six innings. Danny Graves worked a scoreless ninth for his 23rd save.

Houston 11, New York 1--Jeff Bagwell hit his 40th homer and drove in three runs for the Astros at New York.

Tony Eusebio went 0 for 4, ending his hitting streak at 24 games. New York pitcher Al Leiter (14-6) left after three innings because of a strained muscle in his right buttocks.

Colorado 2, Philadelphia 1--Jeffrey Hammonds went three for four, including a go-ahead RBI double in the sixth as the Rockies won at Philadelphia. The loss was the major league-high 16th for Philadelphia’s Omar Daal (3-16).

Colorado’s Todd Helton, who came in leading the majors with a .397 average, didn’t start but entered the game in the seventh inning, replacing starter Butch Huskey at first base. He flied to left in his lone at-bat, and his average dipped to .396.

Chicago 7, San Diego 6--Pinch-hitter Ricky Gutierrez had a sacrifice fly in the 13th inning at Chicago.