NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Biggio Helps Astros Turn Two on Padres

Craig Biggio drove in the winning run in the 17th inning of the opener and hit a three-run homer in the second game as the Astros swept a doubleheader from the San Diego Padres at Houston.

Biggio’s 10th homer of the season led the Astros to a 4-1 victory in the second game and his single ended the 4-hour, 29-minute opener that Houston won, 3-2.

Mike Hampton (3-1) gave up four hits over five innings to win the second game, his third consecutive victory. He left the game because of a strained left groin after giving up a leadoff single to Fernando Valenzuela in the sixth. He struck out four and did not allow a runner to reach second. He is listed as day-to-day.

In the opener, Doug Brocail used his arm and legs to get the Astros their third consecutive victory in their final at-bat.

Brocail (2-0) set the Padres down in order in the top of the 17th and then led off the bottom of the inning with a perfect bunt down the third-base line for a single. He was sacrificed to second and scored on Biggio’s single.

Both teams scored a run in the first, then failed to score for 14 innings. The drought ended when Tony Gwynn doubled in a run with two outs in the 16th to give San Diego a 2-1 lead.

The Astros tied it in their half of the 16th on doubles by Jeff Bagwell and Tony Eusebio.

Atlanta 9, San Francisco 4--David Justice, Chipper Jones and pitcher Steve Avery each homered to lead a 14-hit attack at Atlanta as the Braves won their eighth consecutive game.

Justice, who had three hits and drove in three runs, hit a two-run homer, his 10th, in a three-run third. He also had a run-scoring double in the first as the Braves extended their longest winning streak since winning nine in a row Aug. 8-18, 1993.

Jones hit a two-run homer, his 13th, in the first. Avery hit his second of the season leading off the second.

Colorado 8, Montreal 3--Vinny Castilla hit two home runs for the second game in a row at Denver, driving in four runs.

Eric Young added a two-run homer for the Rockies, who won their fourth in a row. They have scored 66 runs in winning six of seven.

Armando Reynoso (2-0) struck out three, walked two and gave up two earned runs and six hits over 7 2/3 innings.

Chicago 3, Philadelphia 1--Jamie Navarro gave up two hits and an unearned run over 8 1/3 innings and Scott Servais homered to lift the Cubs at Philadelphia.

It was Chicago’s seventh victory in eight games; the Phillies lost their 10th in 12.

Navarro (7-2) struck out two and walked two. Randy Myers got the final two outs for his 21st save.

Pittsburgh 3, New York 2--Don Slaught hit a two-run single and 27-year-old rookie John Ericks won his second consecutive start to lead the Pirates at Pittsburgh.

Slaught’s single came in the third inning after Met rookie starter Bill Pulsipher (1-4) had nearly pitched out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam. Jacob Brumfield doubled, Jay Bell singled and Carlos Garcia walked before Pulsipher struck out Jeff King and Steve Pegues. Slaught then grounded a 2-1 pitch up the middle.

St. Louis 3, Florida 2--Ray Lankford hit a three-run homer and Allen Watson gave up one run over 6 1/3 innings in his first start in a month at St. Louis as the Cardinals won their fourth in a row.

Watson (2-2), making his first start since June 6 because of tendinitis in his right biceps, gave up eight hits in his longest outing of the year.