Hot Start Continues for Giants

Marquis Grissom doubled twice and scored two runs as the San Francisco Giants kept up their impressive start with their 13th victory in 14 games, beating the Houston Astros, 8-4, Tuesday night at San Francisco.

The Giants capitalized on Orlando Merced’s error in right field during a five-run second inning. San Francisco won its sixth game in a row and improved to 7-1 on a nine-game homestand.

As former teammate Jeff Kent went 0 for 4, the Giants improved their best start since moving to California -- and the best start in franchise history since 1918, when the New York Giants went 18-1.

Grissom and Rich Aurilia had run-scoring doubles in the second, which was extended when Merced failed to make a running catch in right. The Giants got two more runs on a wild pitch by Jeriome Robertson (1-2) and catcher Gregg Zaun’s throwing error.

The Giants added another run in the eighth when Brian Hunter -- who replaced Merced in right field -- couldn’t catch Edgardo Alfonzo’s short fly ball in Pacific Bell Park’s swirling winds.

Merced and pinch-hitter Raul Chavez homered for the Astros, who lost their fourth game in a row after a 7-2 start. Houston has lost the first two on a 13-game trip.

Rookie Kurt Ainsworth (3-0) remained perfect, though his performance wasn’t nearly as sharp as his first two efforts this season. He gave up seven hits and four runs in five innings, striking out four in only his seventh major league start.

Felix Rodriguez got the last five outs for his first save, escaping a jam in the eighth by retiring Richard Hidalgo and Jose Vizcaino with two runners in scoring position.

Colorado 12, Arizona 1 -- Shawn Chacon (2-0) gave up four hits in seven-plus innings and hit his first major league home run to help the Rockies win at Phoenix. Colorado scored seven runs in the ninth, highlighted by Larry Walker’s two-run double and Ronnie Belliard’s two-run double.

The two-time defending NL West champion Diamondbacks fell to 3-11, the worst record in the National League and second-worst in baseball, behind only Detroit’s 1-11.

Atlanta 2, Montreal 1 -- Gary Sheffield hit the tying home run in the ninth and Marcus Giles homered in the 10th to help the Braves win at San Juan, Puerto Rico. Shane Reynolds, in his first start since June 8, gave up five hits, struck out three and walked none for the Braves. Chipper Jones left the game because of a groin injury. His status is day-to-day.

New York 3, Pittsburgh 1 -- Tom Glavine’s third consecutive strong start and Jeromy Burnitz’s two-run homer helped the Mets win at Pittsburgh and end their six-game losing streak. Struggling closer Armando Benitez, who blew three leads in the last nine days, worked a scoreless ninth for his fourth save. Glavine (2-1) limited the Pirates to three singles over 6 1/3 innings.

Milwaukee 6, St. Louis 1 -- Ben Sheets (1-2) gave up one run and six hits, walked three and struck out six to help the Brewers win at Milwaukee. He held the Cardinals’ top four batters hitless in 14 at-bats with two walks. The Brewers ended a seven-game home losing streak.

Philadelphia 4, Florida 3 -- The Phillies’ Jimmy Rollins hit a three-run homer in the seventh at Philadelphia. The benches emptied in the seventh after Marlin starter Josh Beckett hit Placido Polanco with a 2-and-1 fastball after Rollins’ homer.

Chicago 11, Cincinnati 1 -- Sammy Sosa hit his 501st home run and Shawn Estes pitched no-hit ball through five innings to help the Cubs win at Chicago. The Cubs took advantage of a 24-mph wind to hit three home runs.