Kingman’s Record Safe as Daal Avoids 20th Loss

Omar Daal avoided becoming the major leagues’ first 20-game loser in 20 years.

With Brian Kingman, the last 20-game loser in the majors, watching Daal’s second consecutive start, the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Chicago Cubs, 10-4, Tuesday night at Chicago.

Kingman, 46, flew in from Los Angeles for the game. “I want to remain the last 20-game loser. I enjoy it for some strange reason,” said Kingman, who went 8-20 in 1980 for the Oakland Athletics. “I suffered a lot that year.”

Daal, who got his 19th loss against Florida on Sept. 16, gave up two runs and 10 hits in six innings, walked none and also hit a two-out, two-run double in the second.

Daal (4-19) had been 0-7 in eight starts since defeating San Diego on Aug. 8. He had been scheduled to start Sunday’s season finale at Florida, but said after Tuesday’s game that a sore knee would prevent him from pitching.

Sammy Sosa started for the first time in a week for the Cubs and made an error in the first inning when he overran Doug Glanville’s single. Sosa, the majors’ home run leader with 50, had been sidelined with a muscle strain in his lower back. He went one for four.

Tom Prince had a career-high four hits, including an RBI double in a six-run ninth, as the Phillies earned their second win in nine games.

St. Louis 7, San Diego 1--Andy Benes won for the first time in more than two months and Edgar Renteria drove in three runs as the Cardinals won at San Diego.

The Cardinals remained two games behind Atlanta in the race for the National League’s best record and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Each team has five games left.

Colorado 7, Arizona 6--The Diamondbacks won’t be going back to the playoffs, as the defending NL West champions were eliminated by losing at Denver.

Todd Helton and Todd Hollandsworth each hit a two-run homer for the Rockies, and Jeff Cirillo went four for five.

Milwaukee 7, Cincinnati 4--Jeromy Burnitz homered and doubled, and Jamey Wright won for the first time in two months as the Brewers began their final series at County Stadium by beating the Reds.

Burnitz hit his 30th home run in the second inning, joining Gorman Thomas (1978-80) as the only Brewers to reach 30 homers in three consecutive seasons.

Florida 5, Montreal 4--Cliff Floyd singled in the winning run in the 10th inning for the Marlins at Miami. With their 74th victory, the Marlins became the first NL team in 31 years to increase its victory total by at least 10 in three consecutive seasons. The 1967-69 New York Mets also did it.

Pittsburgh 9, Houston 4--Brian Giles hit a three-run homer in the first inning and Kris Benson won for the second time in 13 starts as the Pirates beat the Astros at Pittsburgh.