Hernandez Helps Giants Stop Skid

Livan Hernandez pitched a five-hitter for his first victory since July 12 to help the faltering San Francisco Giants beat the Florida Marlins, 3-0, at Miami.

The Giants had lost four consecutive games, matching a season high. They avoided their first four-game series sweep since July 4-7, 1996, at San Diego, and return home after a 2-4 trip.

The Giants won without Barry Bonds, who was given the day off.

David Bell doubled leading off the sixth for the Giants’ first hit, scored their first run and drove in another run with a sacrifice fly. His run ended a streak of 20 1/3 scoreless innings for the Giants. The Marlins had won four in a row.

Bell’s bloop double deflected off the glove of a diving Preston Wilson in short center to start the sixth. Bell advanced when Hernandez sacrificed, then scored on Tom Goodwin’s infield single off the glove of second baseman Luis Castillo. Jeff Kent’s two-out double made it 2-0. J.T. Snow doubled in the seventh and later scored on Bell’s flyout.

Atlanta 7, Colorado 6--Gary Sheffield and Chipper Jones hit back-to-back homers to lead off the bottom of the ninth and rally the Braves at Atlanta. Jones homered twice in the final two innings, starting the eighth with a drive into the seats that launched a three-run rally to tie the score, 5-5.

Houston 7, Cincinnati 5--Lance Berkman hit a two-run homer and Wade Miller had an RBI single as he posted his eighth consecutive win for the Astros at Cincinnati. Ken Griffey Jr. had a pinch-hit three-run homer with no outs in the ninth before Billy Wagner got three outs for his 28th save.

Montreal 4, San Diego 0--Bartolo Colon pitched a two-hitter for his first National League shutout for the Expos at Montreal. Colon (6-2) struck out six and walked two in his major league-leading eighth complete game.

St. Louis 7, Pittsburgh 2--Andy Benes gave up two hits in seven scoreless innings and Albert Pujols drove in four runs at St. Louis for the Cardinals, who have won nine of 10.