Rueter, Giants Keep Pace With 5-1 Victory

Kirk Rueter pitched 6 2/3 innings and the San Francisco Giants kept pace with the Dodgers by capitalizing on eight walks by Darryl Kile to defeat the Houston Astros, 5-1, Sunday at San Francisco.

Rueter (11-6) gave up one run and six hits as he helped the Giants hand the Astros their third consecutive loss. Houston leads Pittsburgh by 2 1/2 games in the National League Central.

Rueter wasn’t wild, but he was hurting. A blister developed on his pitching forefinger during warmups, and Danny Darwin was on call in case Rueter couldn’t make it.

“The trainers had to put some new skin on his finger, just some stuff that comes in a bottle,” San Francisco Manager Dusty Baker said. “Whatever it takes to get that finger back.”

Kile (17-6), however, barely lasted five innings as he lost his third consecutive start.

“Nothing’s the matter physically,” Kile said. “I felt great warming up. I had to make adjustments, and I didn’t do it. It’s probably something in the mechanics.”

Houston Manager Larry Dierker said Kile deserved to stay in the game despite his wildness.

“He’s had good control all year, but he didn’t have it today,” Dierker said.

“We always try to stay with him, and he’s hung in there pretty well all year. But we did have baserunners of our own we couldn’t score.”

New York 9, Chicago 2--Bobby Jones, making his first start in 13 days, gave up four hits over seven shutout innings and Butch Huskey hit his third homer in three games, leading the Mets at Chicago.

“I think the big news today is that Bobby Jones went seven innings and put up zeros,” said New York Manager Bobby Valentine, who pulled Jones after 114 pitches.

Huskey, extending his hitting streak to 15 games, hit his 21st homer leading off a three-run fifth inning and added a run-scoring single in the eighth for the Mets, who have won seven of their last 10 games.

Jones (14-8), who had been sidelined because of tightness in his back, improved to 8-1 against the Cubs. He struck out four and walked three.

Colorado 7, St. Louis 4--Ellis Burks and Todd Helton had run-scoring hits that triggered a five-run burst in the eighth inning and led the Rockies at Denver.

Mark McGwire hit his 48th home run, his 14th for St. Louis, in the first inning. The Cardinals scored twice in the ninth, but McGwire hit a weak grounder to pitcher Jerry Dipoto for the final out as the Rockies won for the 11th time in 12 games.

Cincinnati 6, Pittsburgh 3--Dave Burba retired the last 17 batters he faced, getting his third victory over the Pirates this season, and Jon Nunnally drove in three runs as the Reds rallied at Cincinnati.

Philadelphia 2, Montreal 1--Rico Brogna hit a tiebreaking home run with two outs in the eighth inning and the Phillies beat the Expos at Montreal for their sixth victory in seven games.

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BESTS OF THE DAY BATTING

Player: Mike Piazza

Team: Dodgers

Performance: 3 for 5, 2 runs, 103rd RBI

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Ellis Burks

Team: Colorado

Performance: 2 for 4, 2 RBIs, double, triple

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Butch Huskey

Team: New York

Performance: 2 for 4, homer, 15-game hitting streak

Team’s Result: Win

***

PITCHING

Player: Denny Neagle

Team: Atlanta

Performance: 7 innings, 3 hits, 0 runs, 20th win

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Kirk Rueter

Team: San Francisco

Performance: 6 2/3 innings, 6 hits, 1 run

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Bobby Jones

Team: New York

Performance: 7 innings, 4 hits, 0 runs, 4 strikeouts

Team’s Result:Win