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© St. Petersburg Times, published April 12, 2003
HOUSTON -- Jeff Kent was able to help the Astros only because the bullpen came through.
Kent hit a two-run homer off Matt Morris with two outs in the ninth inning Friday night, giving Houston a 3-2 victory over the Cardinals.
"I just put it into the wind," Kent said. "Morris pitched a great game. We just got to him late. Our bullpen gives us confidence by keeping it close so that we can come back."
Kent's second homer of the season ruined a splendid performance by Morris, who retired 17 of 18 before Lance Berkman's two-out infield single in the ninth.
"It came down to the wire and I made a bad pitch and he hit it out," Morris said. "I lost the game, pretty much. The same pitch got hit for home runs both times. These guys don't miss them too often."
Jeff Bagwell homered in the third for the Astros. Both pitches were fastballs up and over the plate.
Cardinals manager Tony La Russa decided to stay with Morris in the ninth.
"He'd only given up one run into the ninth. I thought he looked great," La Russa said. "It was a disappointing game."
Kent sent a 3-and-1 pitch over the left-centerfield fence to give Houston a thrilling win in the opener of a three-game series between teams that have combined for the past seven Central titles.
At 7-2, the Astros matched the best start in franchise history, accomplished four other times.
GIANTS 3, DODGERS 2: Barry Bonds hit his 617th career homer and Andres Galarraga had two RBIs as host San Francisco matched the best start in franchise history.
The Giants began 10-1 for the fourth time in their history and first since moving to San Francisco 45 years ago. They were 10-1 in 1918, 1932 and 1938, when they were in New York.
Kirk Rueter retired 10 of the first 11 before Shawn Green singled to center with one out in the fourth for the Dodgers' first hit.
BREWERS 11, D'BACKS 7: Randy Johnson allowed 10 runs in 4 2/3 innings in one of the worst starts of his career as visiting Milwaukee beat reeling Arizona.
Geoff Jenkins went a career-best 5-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs scored for the Brewers, who have won three of four.
The 10 earned runs tied a career worst for Johnson. He gave up 11 runs, 10 earned, for Seattle in 21/3 innings of a 12-6 loss at Toronto on April 10, 1994.
REDS 7, PHILLIES 6: Austin Kearns' two-run homer off Jose Mesa with one out in the ninth gave Cincinnati its first dramatic win in its new ballpark.
The Reds blew a 5-1 lead when shortstop Felipe Lopez threw away a grounder, allowing the Phillies to tie it with a four-run rally in the eighth. Placido Polanco's leadoff homer in the ninth off Gabe White gave Philadelphia its first lead and brought on Mesa, who had not allowed a run in 10 appearances against the Reds.
Sean Casey singled with one out and Kearns hit the first pitch for his second homer of the game and fifth overall.
MARLINS 7, BRAVES 4: Derrek Lee hit his 100th home run, pitcher Brad Penny hit his first and host Florida won its third in a row. Chipper Jones hit his second homer for Atlanta, which has been outscored 60-12 in its seven defeats.
PIRATES 3, CUBS 2: Jeff D'Amico got his first win and Aramis Ramirez went 2-for-3 with a run-scoring single for visiting Pittsburgh. Salomon Torres, Joe Beimel, Julian Tavarez and Mike Williams combined on four scoreless innings of relief.
PADRES 6, ROCKIES 4: Brian Lawrence pitched six strong innings and hit his first career home run, leading host San Diego. Gary Bennett went 3-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs for the Padres.