Sports

NL: Trachsel holds Giants to 2 hits in season debut

Associated Press
Published August 27, 2005

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SAN FRANCISCO - Steve Trachsel made a triumphant season debut, allowing two hits in eight innings in his first start since back surgery in March to lead the New York Mets to their fifth straight win, 1-0 over the San Francisco Giants on Friday.

David Wright homered off Kevin Correia (2-5) for the only run for the Mets, who began the night 11/2 games behind wild-card leader Philadelphia. The streak has moved the Mets (68-60) eight games over .500 for the first time since their pennant-winning season of 2000.

Trachsel got off to a quick start, recording five of his six strikeouts in the first four innings. The Giants had only one runner in the first five innings - a walk by Correia.

BREWERS 3, BRAVES 1: Ben Sheets strained his right shoulder and left the game in the eighth inning of host Milwaukee victory.

Chipper Jones was batting with two outs in the eighth and behind in the count 0-2 when Sheets bounced a pitch behind the batter. Sheets came off the mound in obvious pain, holding his right shoulder. Sheets, who was replaced by Kane Davis, struck out eight, allowed five hits and left with a 3-0 lead.

Derrick Turnbow struck out three in the ninth while allowing two hits for his 29th save.

NATIONALS 4, CARDINALS 1: Esteban Loaiza carried a shutout into the seventh inning, Brad Wilkerson hit a leadoff homer and host Washington won its 67th game of the season, the Montreal Expos' total from 2004.

Loaiza allowed one run and three hits over seven-plus innings, walked four and struck out seven. At one point, he fanned five straight hitters and six of seven.

REDS 6, PIRATES 1: Ken Griffey Jr. hit two homers, giving him three in two games, and winning pitcher Aaron Harang ended the longest hitless streak by a major leaguer in 14 years with an RBI single to lead visiting Cincinnati.

Harang's single up the middle in the second ended an 0-for-49 streak. It was the longest by any major leaguer since Padres pitcher Andy Benes went 0-for-50 in 1991 and the longest by a Reds player since pitcher Jack Billingham went 0-for-67 in 1973.

MARLINS 7, CUBS 4: Jeff Conine had three hits and two RBIs, and Miguel Cabrera drove in two runs to help visiting Florida.

Marlins rookie left-hander Jason Vargas pitched five scoreless innings before the Cubs rallied with five runs in the sixth to cut into a 7-0 lead.

Chicago shortstop Nomar Garciaparra made his first start at third base since high school.

PHILLIES 11, D'BACKS 3: Bobby Abreu capped Philadelphia's six-run seventh inning with a grand slam, and visiting Philadelphia won for the fifth time in six games.

Chase Utley hit two solo homers for Philadelphia, which moved within 21/2 games of Atlanta, the NL East leader, and maintained a 11/2-game lead in the wild-card race.

ROCKIES 4, PADRES 3: Rookie Jeff Francis threw 62/3 solid innings and last-place visiting Colorado beat dropped the NL West-leading Padres one game under .500. This is the latest in a season a team has led a division with a losing record.

ASTROS 2, DODGERS 1: Andy Pettitte outdueled former AL East rival Derek Lowe with eight stellar innings and Craig Biggio hit a tiebreaking home run in the eighth to lead visiting Houston.

Pettitte allowed one run and six hits while striking out seven and walking one. Pitching a year and two days after undergoing elbow surgery that prematurely ended his first season with the Astros, he lowered his ERA to 2.60, the best in the majors among left-handers.

[Last modified August 27, 2005, 01:26:02]

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