Jennings Is Sharp in Rockies’ Win

Jason Jennings pitched effectively into the eighth inning, Todd Helton homered and Preston Wilson hit a two-run double in the Colorado Rockies’ 5-1 victory over the San Diego Padres on Thursday night at San Diego.

Jennings held the Padres to one hit through six innings before Brian Giles homered leading off the seventh.

Wilson’s two-run double was the key hit as the Rockies took a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Larry Walker added a sacrifice fly.

San Diego dropped its second in a row after winning eight consecutive games at home. The loss also dropped the Padres into second place in the National League West behind the Dodgers.

Jennings (8-7) gave up five hits and was replaced by Javier Lopez with runners at first and second in the eighth. Lopez struck out pinch-hitter Brian Buchanan to end the inning, and Steve Reed finished the five-hitter with a perfect ninth.

Philadelphia 5, New York 4 -- Bobby Abreu led off the ninth inning with a home run off John Franco to lead the Phillies at Philadelphia.

Abreu hit the second pitch from Franco (2-5) the opposite way to left field. Abreu, an All-Star for the first time, lost his helmet as he hit the plate and was mobbed by his teammates.

Cincinnati 9, Milwaukee 3 -- Ken Griffey Jr. homered, doubled and drove in four runs to break out of a slump, and Paul Wilson earned his career-best ninth win for the Reds at Milwaukee. Griffey had been mired in a .177 slump since hitting his 500th homer last month.

Montreal 2, Pittsburgh 1 -- Brian Schneider hit a home run, and Tony Armas Jr. pitched seven strong innings for the Expos at San Juan, Puerto Rico. Schneider homered off John Grabow (0-3) in the eighth to break a 1-1 tie.

Arizona 8, San Francisco 4 -- Alex Cintron homered from both sides of the plate and the Diamondbacks ended a nine-game road losing streak with a victory at San Francisco. Chad Tracy also homered for last-place Arizona.