NL: Giants shut down Astros again

SAN FRANCISCO - Noah Lowry allowed one hit in seven scoreless innings to help the Giants win a home series for the first time since May, beating the Astros 5-2 on Saturday.

San Francisco has won three in a row for the first time since a four-game streak June 28-July 1 and won its first home series since taking two of three from the Dodgers May 24-26.

After scoring just six runs in the first 25 innings of a three-game series against Colorado (before five in the eighth Thursday), the Giants have beaten two of the majors' top starters. Friday, it was 4-0 over Andy Pettitte. Saturday, it was Roy Oswalt, who had won eight of his past nine decisions and allowed two earned runs or fewer in 13 of his previous 16 starts.

But Saturday, Lowry shined. He struck out eight and retired 18 of his final 20 batters in lowering his ERA to 1.81 in five starts since the All-Star break. After throwing 21 pitches in the first, Lowry needed 85 for his final six. He left because his left elbow tightened up but said he won't miss a start.

"I threw a lot more fastballs inside, which in turn opens up the outside part of the plate for my changeup," Lowry said. "I was able to hit my spots for strikes."

The Giants scored all they needed in the second. Ray Durham led off with a single, advanced to second on a fly out and scored on Edgardo Alfonzo's single. After Mike Matheny singled, Lowry advanced the runners with a bunt.

Omar Vizquel then hit a single to center to make it 2-0. Randy Winn followed with a grounder to second. With Vizquel running in front of him, Criag Biggio bobbled the ball for an error, which allowed Matheny to score.

METS 2, CUBS 0: Jae Seo, called up to make the start, outdueled Greg Maddux for host New York. Seo shut out the Phillies for seven innings May4 but was sent down. Against the Cubs, he pitched 71/3 shutout innings. The 141/3 innings is the longest scoreless streak by a Mets starter this season.

In the Mets' first, Miguel Cairo singled with one out and stole second. After Carlos Beltran walked, Maddux struck out Cliff Floyd. But after falling behind 0-and-2, David Wright doubled home Cairo. It became 2-0 in the third. Jose Reyes singled, moved up on a fly ball, stole third and scored on a Beltran's single.

PADRES 3, NATIONALS 2: Pedro Astacio, entering having lost his past five decisions, gave up two runs in six innings for visiting San Diego. Washington was 24-8 in one-run games on July8 but 0-13 since.

Tied at 2, pinch-hitter Eric Young doubled off Ryan Drese to open the Padres' seventh. Drese had a 2-and-2 count on Dave Roberts when Frank Robinson removed him. As Drese got to the dugout, he threw his glove.

Joey Eischen struck out Roberts on his first pitch. But the next batter, Joe Randa, hit the ball off the wall in left to score Young.

PIRATES 9, DODGERS 4: Zach Duke became the second rookie to win his first five decisions as a starter for host Pittsburgh. Whitey Glazner went 5-0 in 1921 but finished his five-year career 41-48.

Duke gave up four runs in 71/3 innings, the first time he has allowed more than one run since giving up three in 72/3 innings in his July 2 debut. Jason Bay's two-run double followed Freddy Sanchez's run-scoring single during a three-run second that put the Pirates up 4-1.

REDS 4, MARLINS 3: Ken Griffey's double started a two-run sixth that lifted host Cincinnati. Adam Dunn followed Griffey's double to right off Brian Moehler with a walk, and Sean Casey singled to load the bases. Guillermo Mota relieved Moehler, and Austin Kearns' slow groundout to third allowed Griffey to score the tying run. Javier Valentin was walked to reload the bases, and Rich Aurilia drove in Dunn by beating out a double-play grounder.

f,8.5,ux0 PHILLIES 8, BREWERS 2: Jimmy Rollins had three hits, including a homer, and scored three runs for host Philadelphia. Todd Pratt gave the Phillies a 2-1 lead in the fourth with a homer to left-center. Two batters later, Rollins homered to left. Philadelphia sealed it in the sixth when Bobby Abreu's run-scoring single and Chase Utley's two-run single made it 7-1.

ROCKIES 14, DIAMONDBACKS 7: Ryan Shealy drove in four runs and Dustan Mohr hit a two-run homer to highlight a five-run fourth inning, and the Colorado Rockies rallied to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 14-7 Saturday night.

Conor Jackson hit his first two career home runs for the Diamondbacks, who have lost four of five to fall three games behind San Diego in the NL West.

Jeff Francis (11-7) struggled but earned the win for the Rockies, who have won four of five on their current six-game road trip.

[Last modified August 7, 2005, 01:32:04]