Grudzielanek Gives Complete Effort

Mark Grudzielanek saw an opening and went for it.

Grudzielanek scored the winning run, sliding home headfirst on rookie Jose Vidro’s pinch-hit infield single in the ninth inning, as Pedro Martinez and the Montreal Expos defeated the San Francisco Giants, 2-1, Saturday at Montreal.

Grudzielanek singled to lead off the Expo ninth, stole second and scored from third one out later, beating Damon Berryhill’s tag at the plate after second baseman Jeff Kent fielded Vidro’s chopper.

“I saw the ball go over the pitcher’s head and I said, ‘I’ve got a shot,’ ” Grudzielanek said. “I saw a little white piece of plate and I got my hand in there real quick. I think I was in there and obviously he [home plate umpire Larry Poncino] did, too.”

Martinez pitched a four-hitter for his major-league leading 11th complete game and lowered his National League-leading earned-run average to 1.72.

“I feel really focused now,” Martinez said. “I know what it takes to stay focused. I hope I still remember it later on in the year.”

Martinez (14-5) gave up one run in his third consecutive complete game. He struck out eight and walked two in matching his career high for wins, set in 1995.

“He didn’t have his great stuff, “ Montreal Manager Felipe Alou said. “But he still had good stuff. He battled and gave up just one run in nine innings.”

Atlanta 4, Florida 3--Mark Wohlers struck out pinch-hitter Jim Eisenreich and Devon White with runners at second and third to end the game as the Braves held off surging Florida at Atlanta.

A day after the Marlins won the opener of the four-game series, the Braves rebounded to defeat the Marlins for the third time in 10 games this season. Atlanta leads the Marlins by 5 1/2 games in the East.

John Smoltz (11-9) gave up two runs and struck out nine in eight innings. He also had a safety squeeze bunt that capped a three-run sixth as Atlanta overcame a 2-1 deficit.

Wohlers struggled after replacing Smoltz in the ninth, walking leadoff batter Darren Daulton and giving up a single to Moises Alou. After Charles Johnson flied out, Craig Counsell--who finished three for three--singled to load the bases.

Eisenreich batted, and Wohlers bounced a wild pitch that made it 4-3 and put the tying and go-ahead runners in scoring position. But Wohlers struck out Eisenreich and then White on three pitches for his 28th save.

Javy Lopez, who had three hits, singled home the tying run against Rob Stanifer (1-1). Mark Lemke followed with an RBI single and Smoltz bunted for a 4-2 lead.

Houston 8, New York 3--At New York, Mel Rojas, acquired to bolster the Mets’ weak bullpen, gave up five runs in the ninth--capped by Jeff Bagwell’s second home run--as the Astros ended a five-game losing streak.

Rojas (0-5), obtained with reliever Turk Wendell in a six-player deal that sent Lance Johnson to the Chicago Cubs, made his Mets’ debut in the eighth and retired all three batters.

But in the ninth, he gave up a leadoff triple to Tim Bogar and an infield single by Chuckie Carr put the Astros ahead 4-3. Derek Bell added an RBI single and Bagwell hit his 31st home run.

Rojas, who had 13 saves in 19 chances as the Cubs’ closer, was booed by the Shea Stadium crowd as he left the mound.

Russ Springer (2-3) was the winner.

Bagwell drove in four runs, giving him 102 RBIs. He has had at least 100 RBIs in three of the last four seasons.

Colorado 8, Pittsburgh 7--Larry Walker hit two home runs and then doubled in the ninth to set up Andres Galarraga’s game-winning single at Denver.

With one out in the ninth, Quinton McCracken walked and Walker had a broken-bat double down the left-field line, chasing Ricardo Rincon (4-6). Galarraga then hit a single to right-center off Rich Loiselle.

Walker went three for five with three RBIs and raised his major-league-leading average to .389.

Mike Munoz (2-3) got the victory.

Tony Womack hit three doubles and drove in two runs for Pittsburgh.

Philadelphia 3, St. Louis 2--At Philadelphia, reliever Ricky Bottalico and the Phillies benefited from an interference call in the ninth.

Gary Gaetti drew a leadoff walk from Bottalico in the ninth. Gaetti then apparently stole second, but batter John Mabry was called out by plate umpire Eric Gregg for interfering with catcher Mike Lieberthal.

Gaetti was sent back to first, and Bottalico got the last two outs for his 22nd save.

Bottalico struck out Mark McGwire with a runner at first to end the eighth. St. Louis Manager Tony La Russa was ejected by Gregg for arguing the called third strike.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

Player: Larry Walker

Team: Colorado

Performance: 3 for 5, two home runs, double, 3 RBIs, 2 runs

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Jeff Bagwell

Team: Houston

Performance: 2 for 4, two home runs, 4 RBIs, 3 runs

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Tony Womack

Team: Pittsburgh

Performance: 3 for 5, three doubles, 2 RBIs, 2 runs

Team’s Result: Loss

PITCHING

Player: Pedro Martinez

Team: Montreal

Performance: 9 innings, 4 hits, 1 run, 8 strikeouts

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: John Smoltz

Team: Atlanta

Performance: 8 innings, 5 hits, 2 runs, 9 strikeouts

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Gabe White

Team: Cincinnati

Performance: 7 innings, 5 hits, 2 runs, 5 strikeouts, 1 walk

Team’s Result: Win