Rocker Is Still Wild, Braves Win Anyway

John Rocker couldn’t find the strike zone--again. Luckily for the Atlanta Braves, Pittsburgh starter Jimmy Anderson couldn’t either.

Rocker made a wild but harmless return to the Braves on Wednesday night, throwing six successive balls in the eighth inning before being lifted in an 8-4 victory at Pittsburgh.

Rocker, exiled to the minors to battle his wildness, replaced Greg Maddux (9-1) with the Braves up 8-4, two on and two outs. He heard far more boos than cheers, a far different reception than during his short stay in with Rocker-friendly Richmond (Va.), the Braves’ triple-A affiliate.

Rocker threw almost all strikes in three appearances in Richmond--he charted his own pitches there--and felt his control problem was worked out.

Evidently, it wasn’t.

The cheers from the crowd of 16,972 picked up with each ball to John Vander Wal, who walked on four pitches, only one very close to the strike zone. It was Rocker’s 26th walk in 18 1/3 innings.

After Rocker threw two more balls to Pat Meares, Manager Bobby Cox came to the mound and signaled for former closer Kerry Ligtenberg, who recorded the out.

Rocker, who talked briefly but cordially to reporters before the game, did not talk them after the game.

San Francisco 6, Cincinnati 2--Kirk Rueter (4-4) allowed one run and five hits in six innings at San Francisco--where the temperature reached 103 degrees--as the Giants completed a three-game sweep of the Reds. Barry Bonds, who leads the major leagues with 25 home runs, left the game with a groin injury suffered after rounding third and scoring on Jeff Kent’s first-inning double. He is listed day ot day.

Houston 8, Colorado 4--Moises Alou, Richard Hidalgo and Tony Eusebio hit consecutive homers in the eighth inning as the Astros set a team record with six home runs at Denver.

Alou homered twice and Jeff Bagwell and Lance Berkman added solo shots for the Astros, who handed Rockie starter Pedro Astacio his first loss since April 9. Astacio (6-3) had won six consecutive decisions.

St. Louis 3, San Diego 1--Garrett Stephenson remained perfect against the National League, allowing five hits in 7 1/3 innings as the Cardinals won at San Diego for their second three-game sweep of the Padres this year.

Stephenson (9-2) won his ninth straight decision against NL teams. His only two losses were consecutive defeats to Cleveland and Detroit in interleague play.

New York 10, Chicago 8--Benny Agbayani hit two solo home runs, his first shots since connecting against the Cubs in Tokyo, and the Mets won at Chicago in a game delayed by rain three times for nearly 3 1/2 hours.

Milwaukee 11, Montreal 2--Marquis Grissom homered and drove in three runs, and Jamey Wright pitched eight strong innings for the Brewers at Milwaukee. Raul Casanova went three for five, including a solo homer.

Florida 8, Philadelphia 1--Ryan Dempster pitched a four-hitter and Alex Gonzalez had a career-high five RBIs for the Marlins on a rainy night at Philadelphia.