Ruptured tendon sidelines Griffey for season
CINCINNATI Ken Griffey Jr. will miss the rest of the season after rupturing a tendon in his right ankle Thursday night, the latest in a string of major injuries for the 11-time All-Star.
Griffey was hurt while running out a double after pausing at home plate as if he thought his drive to left field would be a home run.
He had to speed up and was hurt just after rounding first in the sixth inning of the Cincinnati Reds' 5-4 loss to the Houston Astros. The center fielder will have surgery Friday.
Injuries to both legs and his right shoulder have caused Griffey to miss 140 games since the 2000 season, including 33 this year.
Geoff Blum hit a two-run single that capped a five-run second inning for NL Central-leading Houston. Rookie left-hander Jeriome Robertson (9-3) won his fifth consecutive start.
Brewers 7, Pirates 5
PITTSBURGH John Vander Wal's third grand slam this season helped open a seven-run lead, and Milwaukee overcame Craig Wilson's pinch-hit slam for the win.
All-Star Geoff Jenkins ended an 0-for-17 slump with a solo homer as the Brewers chased Kris Benson (5-9), who gave up six runs, five earned, in two innings.
Even with a 7-0 lead, Brewers starter Wayne Franklin (6-6) lasted only one out into the sixth, allowing Wilson's team-record ninth career pinch-hit homer in the fifth.
Phillies, 5, Expos 2, 11 innings
PHILADELPHIA Marlon Byrd's two-out, three-run homer in the 11th inning lifted Philadelphia.
The Phillies, who lead the NL wild-card race, have won six of seven. Montreal has lost eight of 10.
Jimmy Rollins started the 11th with a double off Tim Drew (0-2). Rollins was replaced by pinch runner Nick Punto after injuring himself running to second. Punto advanced to third on Pat Burrell's fly out to center. Pinch hitter Jason Michaels grounded out to third and Tomas Perez was intentionally walked
Byrd then hit a 1-0 pitch over the left-center field wall for his third homer.
Braves 3, Mets 2
ATLANTA Mark DeRosa's check-swing infield single in the ninth inning scored Vinny Castilla from third and gave Greg Maddux and the Braves the win.
With the Mets playing their first game without closer Armando Benitez, the Braves loaded the bases with one out against John Franco (0-2). DeRosa then hit a dribbler to second baseman Joe McEwing, who couldn't come up with the ball as Castilla scored the winning run.
Diamondbacks 9, Padres 1
SAN DIEGO Curt Schilling won for the first time since returning from the disabled list as Arizona routed San Diego.
Former Padres star Steve Finley hit a three-run homer in the first inning to start the Diamondbacks' scoring barrage. Finley had three hits and Luis Gonzalez three runs.
Schilling (5-4) allowed just one run unearned because of his error and eight hits in seven innings. He struck out eight and walked one in his second start since coming off the DL.
Dodgers 6, Cardinals 3
LOS ANGELES Hideo Nomo hit a two-run homer and an RBI double while also pitching six strong innings, leading Los Angeles past St. Louis.
Nomo (10-8) limited the Cardinals to two hits and one unearned run while walking four and striking out five.
The game was the first in a Los Angeles uniform for outfielders Rickey Henderson and Jeromy Burnitz, acquired during the All-Star break.
Henderson went 1-for-4, and Burnitz went hitless in four at-bats.
Giants 8, Rockies 4
SAN FRANCISCO Edgardo Alfonzo had three hits and drove in two runs and Rich Aurilia had two RBIs and doubled twice, leading San Francisco past Colorado.
Damian Moss (8-6) won for the first time in five starts and the NL West-leading Giants got their sixth victory in nine games.