Rockies Don’t Get Swept Away

Larry Walker and Bobby Estallela homered and drove in four runs each as the Colorado Rockies defeated the San Francisco Giants, 14-4, Wednesday night to avoid a sweep at Denver.

Colorado won for only the second time in nine games and kept the Giants from getting their first three-game sweep at Coors Field.

San Francisco lost for the third time in eight games and dropped to 3-6 against Colorado.

Colorado scored seven runs in the second off Livan Hernandez (6-10), which came one game after the Giants scored eight in the first in an 18-5 victory.

Juan Uribe, Brent Butler and Todd Zeile each had run-scoring singles, and Estalella knocked in another with a sacrifice fly.

Walker had the big hit, a three-run homer to right, his 20th and ninth in 16 games. It’s the third time this season Walker has homered in three consecutive games.

Walker finished four for five and also made a basket catch with his glove practically resting on his hip in the fifth. Jason Jennings (9-4) avoided the first three-game losing streak of his career by giving up four runs and eight hits in six innings.

Atlanta 6, Montreal 5--Javy Lopez hit an infield single off third baseman Fernando Tatis’ glove to score Vinny Castilla in the ninth inning and give the Braves the victory at Atlanta.

The Braves won their 12th consecutive series and stretched their lead over second-place Montreal to 9 1/2 games in the National League East.

Houston 11, Cincinnati 4--Jeff Bagwell homered twice and drove in five runs, and Craig Biggio had a two-run shot at Cincinnati to power the Astros.

Roy Oswalt (9-5) also had two singles and pitched six innings to stay unbeaten against the Reds.

St. Louis 4, San Diego 1--Rookie Jason Simontacchi won for the third time in four starts and Tino Martinez hit a two-run home run as the Cardinals completed a three-game sweep at St. Louis.

Brian Lawrence (7-5) gave up two runs in six innings and Ron Gant homered for the Padres, who were swept for the seventh time.

Chicago 6, Florida 2--Kerry Wood won for only the second time in six starts and Fred McGriff homered for the second consecutive game as the Cubs won at Miami.

Wood, who went 1-2 with two no-decisions in June, gave up two runs and three hits in six innings to help the Cubs win for the second time in nine games. Wood (8-5) struck out five and had a run-scoring single.

Pittsburgh 3, Milwaukee 1--Brian Giles hit a two-run homer in the first and Josh Fogg limited the Brewers to a run over six innings as the Pirates won at Pittsburgh.

The Brewers did little against Fogg (9-6) and relievers Brian Boehringer and Mike Williams, scoring only on Richie Sexson’s run-scoring triple in the sixth--his first RBI in 46 at-bats since June 19.