Reds Go 8-0 Against Astros

Ron Gant hit his 25th homer and drove in three runs Friday nightto lead the Cincinnati Reds to a 8-3 victory over visiting Houston,making them undefeated in eight games against the Astros this season.

The Reds lead the NL Central by eight games over second-placeHouston. Cincinnati has won just five of its last 11 games, but theAstros have won only three of 11.

David Wells (2-1) pitched six innings for his second win sincebeing acquired from Detroit on July 31. He gave up seven hits,walked two and struck out four.

Gant's homer keyed a three-run fifth. Jerome Walton drew aleadoff walk and Gant homered one out later for a 4-1 lead. BenitoSantiago later singled and scored from first on Bret Boone's double.

Mets 3, Dodgers 2: Brett Butler, three hours after being tradedfrom the Mets to Los Angeles, tied it with a two-run triple in theseventh before host New York won in the ninth on pinch-hitter BillSpiers' suicide squeeze.

Butler, who left the Dodgers as a free agent after last season,was sent back to Los Angeles for two minor-leaguers.

Phillies 16, Giants 8: Barry Bonds and Robby Thompson eachhomered twice for San Francisco, but host Philadelphia still routedthe Giants in a game featuring a Veterans Stadium-record nine homeruns.

Pirates sweep Marlins: Nelson Liriano hit the first grand slam ofhis career, highlighting a six-run eighth inning that finished offPittsburgh's 13-7 win over visiting Florida in the first game of adoubleheader. The Pirates won the nightcap 7-6 in 13 innings.

Jeff King had three hits, including an RBI single in the sevenththat put Pittsburgh ahead for good. The Pirates put it away in theeighth with their biggest inning of the season, helped by two errors.

Kevin Young scored in the 13th on Al Martin's single to win thesecond game.

Expos 7, Padres 3: Sean Berry, Mike Lansing and David Segui eachdrove in two runs for host Montreal.

Cardinals 4, Braves 3: Tom Henke became the seventh pitcher toreach 300 career saves, surviving a rally by visiting Atlanta in theninth inning.