NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Rockies Rally to Get Past Marlins, Retain Lead

Doing the little things right--some of them just barely--the Colorado Rockies beat the Florida Marlins, 6-3, Friday night at Denver and stayed atop the National League West.

Joe Girardi slapped a two-run single past a drawn-in infield, triggering a four-run seventh inning as the Rockies rallied from a 3-2 deficit.

The Rockies, who were swept in a three-game series by the Marlins last month, posted their 11th victory in the last 15 games and maintained their one-game lead over the Dodgers.

Walt Weiss and pinch-hitter John Vander Wal opened the seventh with singles off Burkett (13-12). It was Vander Wal’s 24th pinch hit this season, leaving him one shy of the major-league record set by Montreal’s Jose Morales in 1976.

Jason Bates’ sacrifice bunt moved both runners, and Girardi singled past diving second baseman Quilvio Veras for a 4-3 lead.

“Their team [Colorado] is very well focused,” Marlin Manager Rene Lachemann said. “You can see it in the way they go about their business.”

Atlanta 3, Cincinnati 1--Eddie Perez hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning--his first major-league hit--to power the NL East champion Braves to a victory at Cincinnati.

The Braves scored three runs in the seventh off the Reds’ bullpen to win their first game since clinching a fourth-consecutive division title Wednesday.

Perez, a catcher making his first major-league start, was one of several reserves in the lineup as the Braves rested injured starters.

New York 4, Philadelphia 1--Todd Hundley drove in three runs and rookie Jason Isringhausen yielded only one run despite giving up a career-high 13 hits as the Mets won at New York to extend their winning streak to three games.

Isringhausen (7-2) went 7 1/3 innings to win his fifth in a row, striking out six without a walk.

Michael Mimbs (8-6), pressed into a starting role when Curt Schilling was scratched because of a sore right shoulder, took the loss.

San Francisco 4, Pittsburgh 2--Matt Williams’ two-run single in the 10th inning at Pittsburgh helped the Giants end their three-game losing streak.

Pinch-hitter John Patterson opened the inning with a single off Mike Dyer (4-4). Dan Plesac walked Deion Sanders before a bunt advanced both runners. Barry Bonds was walked intentionally and Williams grounded a single to left off Dan Miceli.

Houston 7, Montreal 3--Pinch-hitter Derrick May drove in the go-ahead run and Andy Stankeiwicz added a two-run single in a three-run seventh to allow the Astros to win at Montreal and keep pace with the Dodgers.

Pinch-hitter John Cangelosi was walked by Greg Harris (2-3) leading off the seventh and, after Tony Eusebio singled, May doubled off reliever Bryan Eversgerd to snap a 3-3 tie.

Chicago 6, San Diego 2--Reliever Bryce Florie walked the first batter he faced with the bases loaded to force in the go-ahead run and the Cubs went on to a four-run eighth inning and a victory at San Diego.