Guerrero makes Schilling pay for rare mistake

<br>MONTREAL (AP) _ Vladimir Guerrero hit his second game-ending home run against Arizona this series on Thursday, connecting with one out in the ninth inning off Curt Schilling to give the Montreal Expos

Friday, August 2nd 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

MONTREAL (AP) _ Vladimir Guerrero hit his second game-ending home run against Arizona this series on Thursday, connecting with one out in the ninth inning off Curt Schilling to give the Montreal Expos a 2-1 victory over the Diamondbacks.

``He always challenges me and throws me balls around the strike zone,'' the Dominican Guerrero said through an interpreter. ``The first three at-bats, I missed that same pitch. I went in looking for it, got it, and made contact for us to win it.''

Guerrero also hit a game-winning homer in the 10th inning off South Korean reliever Byung-Hyun Kim to win the series opener Tuesday.

Schilling (18-4) had his six-game winning streak snapped, losing to a National League opponent for just the second time this season. He allowed seven hits and two runs in 8 1-3 innings in his fourth complete game of the season.

``It's not about pitching well,'' he said. ``It's about winning or losing and I didn't pitch well enough to win.''

In other NL games, it was: Cincinnati 6, Los Angeles 4; Atlanta 4, Milwaukee 0; Houston 3, New York 1; Colorado 3, Pittsburgh 0; Florida 4, St. Louis 0; Philadelphia 2, San Francisco 1; and Chicago 8, San Diego 7.

Tomo Ohka allowed one run and six hits in a season-high eight innings, and Joey Eischen (3-1) allowed one hit in the ninth for the win.

``It was an excellent game by Ohka _ it had to be,'' Expos manager Frank Robinson said. ``We played good defense and that's the combination you have to have against a Curt Schilling out there on the mound because he's not going to give up too much, and Ohka matched him out there.''

Arizona's David Dellucci homered off Ohka leading off the seventh to tie the game at 1.

Andres Galarraga, who entered the game with just four hits in 46 career at-bats against Schilling, hit an RBI single in the second.

Reds 6, Dodgers 4

In Cincinnati, Eric Gagne was ejected after hitting a batter in the ninth inning and Ken Griffey Jr. homered in the 13th inning to lead the Cincinnati over Los Angeles.

Los Angeles fell to 6-14 since the All-Star break because it couldn't close out a four-run lead against a team that had managed only two hits in the first eight innings.

Odalis Perez allowed only two hits through seven inning, and Gagne was three outs from finishing a 4-0 win.

Aaron Boone hit a two-run homer off Gagne, who then hit Adam Dunn with his next pitch. Plate umpire Dan Iassogna immediately ejected Gagne, who became enraged and charged him.

Giovanni Carrara gave up a two-out, two-strike double to Jason LaRue to tie it at 4.

Scott Williamson (3-3) got the win and Omar Daal (8-6) took the loss.

Cubs 8, Padres 7

In Chicago, Alex Gonzalez hit a two-run, two-out double off Trevor Hoffman in the ninth inning, rallying Chicago over San Diego.

Hoffman (1-3) was one out from tying Rollie Fingers for sixth on the career saves list at 341, but instead blew a save for only the second time in 27 chances this season. Chicago, which had trailed 7-3, had been just 1-53 when behind after eight innings.

Tom Gordon (1-1) got his first victory since May 6, 2001, against Los Angeles.

Braves 4, Brewers 0

In Atlanta, Greg Maddux pitched six innings for his 268th career win, tying Hall of Famer Jim Palmer for 30th most ever, as Atlanta completed a three-game sweep.

Maddux (11-3) allowed five hits and lowered his NL-leading ERA to 2.45. He walked one and struck out five as the Braves, who have the best record in the majors at 70-38, won for the 12th time in 15 games.

Atlanta's Chipper Jones, who went 3-for-3 with a walk, and Gary Sheffield, with a pair of singles, each had RBIs against Glendon Rusch (5-11) in a three-run fourth inning.

Marlins 4, Cardinals 0

In Miami, A.J. Burnett pitched a four-hitter for his major league-leading fourth shutout as Florida beat St. Louis.

Burnett (11-7) struck out seven, walked three and tied his career high for wins in a season, set last year.

The Cardinals' lone highlight was a triple play in the sixth inning. It was their first triple play in more than nine years.

Chuck Finley (2-1) lost for the first time with the Cardinals, giving up six hits and two earned runs in seven innings.

Astros 3, Mets 1

In New York, Roy Oswalt kept his cool on a steamy evening, and Houston won for the sixth time in seven games.

After the teams swapped lopsided victories the previous two days, Oswalt (12-6) and Pedro Astacio (10-4) put the emphasis back on pitching.

Brad Ausmus drove in two runs and Craig Biggio homered as the Astros won a matchup of wild card contenders and improved to 55-52, the same record as New York. The Mets lost a series for the first time the All-Star break, having won four and split two.

Phillies 2, Giants 1

In Philadelphia, Randy Wolf (7-7) pitched seven strong innings and Philadelphia scored two runs on a pair of fielder's choices in the seventh inning to beat San Francisco.

Barry Bonds was out of the Giants' lineup, but pinch-hit in the ninth inning. After missing 10 starts with a strained right hamstring, Bonds went 3-for-4 with a homer Wednesday night, but appeared to aggravate the injury making a shoestring catch.

Bonds grounded out after Reggie Sanders led off the ninth with a single as Jose Mesa got his 30th save in 37 opportunities.

Russ Ortiz (7-8) pitched a six-hitter in the loss.

Rockies 3, Pirates 0

In Pittsburgh, Jason Jennings held Pittsburgh hitless for 6 2-3 innings, the longest such stretch in team history, and Colorado salvaged the final game of the three-game series.

Jennings' best effort of his so-far excellent rookie season _ he is 11-5 _ ended the Rockies' season-long eight-game losing streak. The Pirates won the first two games after losing six straight. Jennings allowed one hit in seven innings.

The Pirates, outhit 13-2, were shut out for the fourth time in seven games and the 11th time this season.