NL: Rookie slugger lifts Pirates

PITTSBURGH - Pittsburgh rookie Brad Eldred is known as Big Country for his 270 pounds and his big swings. He's quickly learning in the majors that he doesn't have to hit the ball out of the park to make an impact.

Eldred's third consecutive double drove in the winning run in the ninth inning, and the Pirates overcame three San Diego homers to beat the first-place Padres 9-8 Wednesday night.

With Rob Mackowiak on first base after walking, Eldred hit a two-out line drive into the right-center field gap. Center fielder Dave Roberts, who entered in the top of the inning, slid to his knees to try to cut the ball off, but it skidded past him.

Eldred, called up July 22 after hitting 65 homers in 11/2 minor league seasons, has yet to homer in 27 at-bats, but he had a four-hit night and drove in three runs. He had only one RBI coming into the game.

"There's no better feeling than that, to get a game-winning hit in the ninth," said Eldred, who boosted his average from .174 to .296. "I knew it was only a matter of time before I started hitting. I really haven't felt overmatched up here, and I've never lost any confidence."

The Padres insist they haven't, either, despite losing for the 13th in 15 games. After winning 11-3 Tuesday, they held a team meeting intended to put a miserable 8-18 July behind them, then wasted an eight-run night as Chan Ho Park flopped in his Padres debut.

"It was a tough one to lose," Eric Young said. "There were some good signs out there, and we've got to build on those positives."

San Diego hadn't homered in nine games since July 22, only to hit three in the first seven innings - including game-tying homers by Young, a three-run shot in the fifth, and Khalil Greene, a two-run drive in the sixth. Young also had an RBI single in a three-run sixth that put San Diego up 8-7.

Eldred doubled ahead of rookie Ryan Doumit's two-run single that restored the Pirates' lead at 7-5 in the fifth. Eldred's second double tied it at 8 in the seventh against reliever Scott Linebrink as the Pirates got seven hits and five RBIs from their three rookies, leadoff man Chris Duffy, Eldred and Doumit.

PHILLIES 4, CUBS 3: Jimmy Rollins scored the winning run for host Philadelphia on a bases-loaded passed ball in the ninth inning.

Rollins doubled off Mike Remlinger (0-3) to open the bottom of the ninth, and moved to third on a grounder. Then the lefty reliever intentionally walked the left-handed hitting Chase Utley and Bobby Abreu to load the bases before he was pulled for Michael Wuertz.

Pat Burrell swung wildly at strike three on a full count, but the ball got past catcher Michael Barrett. Rollins broke for home, stopped halfway down the line, then darted home when Barrett threw to third.

NATIONALS 3, DODGERS 1: Preston Wilson and Nick Johnson homered as host Washington won for only the fifth time in 19 games since the All-Star break.

The Dodgers lost for the sixth time in eight games.

Chad Cordero, Washington's fifth pitcher, worked a scoreless ninth to earn his major league-leading 36th save.

REDS 8, BRAVES 5: Adam Dunn drove in five runs with a three-run homer and a two-run double - the third time this season and sixth time overall he has driven in five runs in a game - for host Cincinnati.

Dunn homered off Braves starter Horacio Ramirez in the fourth to give the Reds a 4-2 lead. He then doubled against Ramirez with the bases loaded in the sixth, driving in two more runs.

Dunn, named NL player of the month for July earlier in the day, had an NL-leading 11 homers and major league-best 31 RBIs last month.

CARDINALS 9, MARLINS 6: Pinch-hitter So Taguchi hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh inning to lead host St. Louis, which has won four of five.

David Eckstein had three hits and two RBIs, and Mark Grudzielanek had three hits and an RBI for the Cardinals, while Matt Morris got his 12th win and avoided losing three straight starts for the first time in his career.

BREWERS 6, METS 4: Lyle Overbay singled home two runs in the ninth inning as visiting Milwaukee rallied after New York starter Pedro Martinez left the game.

ROCKIES 3, GIANTS 2: Pinch-hitter J.D. Closser singled in the go-ahead run in the ninth as Colorado won consecutive road games for the first time this season.

ASTROS 7, DIAMONDBACKS 0: Morgan Ensberg hit his 28th homer and five Houston pitchers combined on a six-hit shutout to lead the surging Astros past the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-0 Wednesday night.

Ezequiel Astacio (2-4) won his second straight decision for the Astros, who won for the 15th time in 17 tries to maintain a two-game lead over Washington in the NL wild-card race.

[Last modified August 4, 2005, 01:33:02]