For Starters, Tomko Defeats the Giants

Brett Tomko showed the Cincinnati Reds that they should not have demoted him to the bullpen.

Tomko, relegated to long relief for the last two weeks, returned to the rotation Saturday and struck out a career-high 10 in a 5-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants at Cincinnati.

Tomko (6-3) and reliever Jeff Shaw combined on a two-hitter as the Reds won for only the fourth time in 14 games.

The Reds had moved Tomko, their most effective right-handed starter, to the bullpen so they could showcase their veteran starters before the trade deadline.

“I said all along that he’s got to be in the rotation,” said Jack McKeon, who replaced Ray Knight as manager on June 25. “I don’t know how he got out of it.”

Tomko went seven innings and outpitched Mark Gardner (11-5), who gave up three homers and four runs as the Giants remained tied for NL West lead with the Dodgers. Eddie Taubensee, Willie Greene and Reggie Sanders each had home runs for the Reds.

The Giants, who have led the division since May 11, are 9-14 since the All-Star break.

The first three batters took called third strikes from Tomko. In all, the Giants struck out 12 times. San Francisco’s run came on Barry Bonds’ home run, his 28th, in the sixth inning.

“Guys were saying, ‘Let’s go,’ and were trying to get into it, but we were a little flat today,” San Francisco Manager Dusty Baker said. “This is usually the game you’ve got to push--day game after a night game. The second game of a series, the home team wins most of the time. We’ve got to find some answers tonight and come out smoking tomorrow.”

The Giants struggled against Tomko, who had never faced any of the Giants’ hitters.

“The organization did what it needed to do. I supported their decision,” Tomko said. “I wasn’t comfortable in the bullpen, but it wasn’t a problem. I am glad to get out of there.”

Atlanta 4, Florida 2--Denny Neagle pitched seven shutout innings and the Braves avoided a possible four-game sweep at Miami.

The Marlins won the first two games, but Neagle restored the Braves’ lead to 6 1/2 games going into today’s game between the top two teams in the NL East.

Braves left fielder Danny Bautista reached over a short retaining wall in foul territory to catch Bobby Bonilla’s fly ball for the final out, stranding runners at first and second.

Neagle (15-2) matched teammate Greg Maddux and Houston’s Darryl Kile for most wins in the NL. He gave up four hits, struck out seven and extended his scoreless streak to 16 innings.

Mark Wohlers pitched the ninth for his 26th save.

Al Leiter (8-7) gave up four hits, but they included a home run by Javy Lopez and triples by Ryan Klesko and Kenny Lofton. He struck out eight and walked three in seven innings.

Florida Manager Jim Leyland was ejected as both teams, for the second night in a row, challenged the umpires.

St. Louis 2, Philadelphia 1--First baseman Mark McGwire got his first National League hit for the Cardinals and also scored the go-ahead run at Philadelphia.

Todd Stottlemyre (11-7) pitched eight strong innings and the Cardinals snapped a four-game losing streak and ended the Phillies’ season-high four-game winning streak.

The Cardinals scored twice in the sixth. Pinch-hitter Ron Gant walked with the bases loaded, forcing home McGwire for a 2-1 lead.

McGwire, traded by Oakland to the Cardinals on Thursday, went one for three with a walk. Hitless in three at-bats on Friday night, he got his first hit in the sixth, an infield single.

Pittsburgh 6, Colorado 5--Joe Randa’s two-run triple was one of only two Pirate hits in a five-run fifth at Pittsburgh.

Larry Walker hit a home run for the third consecutive game and also had a run-scoring double for Colorado. The Rockies lost despite outhitting Pittsburgh, 13-5.

Francisco Cordova (8-6) left with a 6-1 lead after seven innings, but the Rockies scored four times in the eighth against Marc Wilkins.

Clint Sodowsky retired Neifi Perez on an inning-ending grounder with the bases loaded in the eighth, and Rich Loiselle pitched the ninth for his 17th save.

Walker hit his National League-leading 33rd home run in the first, giving him four home runs in seven at-bats.

Houston 6, New York 0--Mike Hampton pitched a three-hitter and Jeff Bagwell hit his 29th home run at Houston and the Astros won for the 12th time in 14 games.

Hampton (9-7) won his sixth consecutive decision, tying a career best set in 1995. He struck out seven and walked three in his second career shutout.

Hampton, who was 5-0 with a 2.25 earned-run average in July, retired the first 10 batters of the game before Luis Lopez singled up the middle.

Bagwell hit a solo home run in the first off Bobby Jones (12-7).

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Ryne Sandberg Chicago 3 for 3, two home runs, 3 RBIs, 3 runs Win Rondell White Montreal 3 for 4, home run, 2 RBIs, 3 runs Win

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PITCHING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Mike Hampton Houston Three-hit shutout, 7 strikeouts, 3 walks Win Carlos Perez Montreal Five-hit shutout, 6 strikeouts, 2 walks Win Brett Tomko Cincinnati 7 innings, 2 hits, 1 run, 10 strikeouts Win Denny Neagle Atlanta 7 innings, 4 hits, 0 runs, 7 strikeouts Win

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