Lofton Makes a Powerful Impression

Kenny Lofton used his power instead of his speed to impress his new team.

Lofton homered in his first at-bat with San Francisco and Kirk Rueter pitched six strong innings to lead the Giants over the Phillies, 10-3, Tuesday night at Philadelphia.

Lofton, acquired Sunday from the Chicago White Sox for two minor leaguers, hit the second pitch of the game from rookie Brett Myers (1-1) over the left-center-field wall for his 24th career leadoff homer.

The six-time All-Star tripled in the sixth inning. He finished two for four with two runs scored.

“It was nice to get my first hit out of the way. I thought it would hit the wall, but it kept carrying,” Lofton said of his homer. “It was fun, it was exciting, I’m glad I did my part.”

Rueter (9-6) gave up two runs and seven hits to win his second consecutive start after eight winless outings.

The Giants, who tied the Dodgers for the National League wild-card lead, played without injured left fielder Barry Bonds for the 10th consecutive game. Bonds, sidelined by a hamstring injury, took batting practice but isn’t expected to play in the series.

“He’s got some sock,” Giant Manager Dusty Baker said of Lofton. “We needed to get going against a guy we’ve never seen.”

Rueter improved to 6-2 on the road. He’s 3-4 at Pacific Bell Park.

“I do the same stuff at home,” Rueter said, unable to explain his road success.

Placido Polanco, acquired in the five-player trade that sent Scott Rolen to St. Louis on Monday, was one for four in his Phillie debut.

St. Louis 5, Florida 0--Andy Benes won for the first time in nearly a year, Edgar Renteria homered twice and Scott Rolen hit a run-scoring triple in his Cardinal debut at Miami.

Benes (1-3), still battling arthritis in his right knee, gave up four hits in a season-high 6 1/3 innings.

Renteria hit solo home runs against Michael Tejera (6-4) in the fifth and seventh innings for the third multihomer game of his career.

Montreal 5, Arizona 4--Vladimir Guerrero homered against Byung-Hyun Kim (4-2) in the 10th inning at Montreal and the Expos ended the Diamondbacks’ season-high seven-game winning streak.

After the Expos gave up an unearned run with two out in the eighth to blow a 4-3 lead, Guerrero hit his 27th homer to win it.

Cliff Floyd homered for Montreal just before being traded to Boston.

Pittsburgh 4, Colorado 1--Kris Benson (4-5) gave up three hits over eight innings at Pittsburgh and the Pirates extended the Rockies’ winless streak to seven games.

Kevin Young’s bases-loaded walk forced in the go-ahead run, and Adam Hyzdu had a two-run double in a three-run eighth inning.

The Pirates ended a six-game losing streak.

Benson, who returned in May from an 18-month layoff for reconstructive elbow surgery, hadn’t pitched longer than seven innings since his return.

Houston 16, New York 3--Geoff Blum drove in five runs with four hits at New York and the Astros tied a season high with 20 hits.

Blum hit a home run, a triple and two singles. His four hits and five runs batted in tied career highs.

Houston’s Brad Ausmus tied a career high with four hits, including a homer.

Atlanta 3, Milwaukee 2--Damian Moss gave up two hits over seven innings at Atlanta, and Gary Sheffield doubled in two runs in a three-run sixth that helped the Braves end the Brewers’ four-game winning streak.

Moss (7-4) has won three in a row, giving up only one earned run in his last 20 innings. He did not give up a hit after Jose Hernandez led off the second with a solo home run.

John Smoltz earned his 39th save, matching the Atlanta record set in 1996 by Mark Wohlers. It was his 25th consecutive save, a club record.

San Diego 6, Chicago 5--Tom Lampkin tied the score with a seventh-inning home run and singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth at Chicago.

Bubba Trammell homered for the Padres, who overcame Sammy Sosa’s 32nd homer and ended a four-game losing streak.

Mike Holtz (2-1) pitched two innings, and Trevor Hoffman got three outs for his 25th save in 26 chances, sending the Cubs to their sixth loss in seven games.

Mark Prior, a San Diego native and an All-American at USC, faced his hometown team for the first time and struck out 10. The rookie left after Brian Buchanan’s line drive hit his right leg in the seventh inning.