Trachsel Stays on Track With One-Hitter

The Houston Astros must have been feeling pretty good when Brian Hunter doubled leading off the first inning. But that was all they would get against Steve Trachsel.

Trachsel then shut down Houston for his first career shutout to lead the Cubs to a 6-0 victory over the Astros at Chicago Monday night.

After Hunter’s double, Trachsel (3-2) gave up a walk in the second inning before retiring 14 straight. He struck out six and walked three en route to his first complete game this season.

“That was just a great pitching performance,” Cub Manager Jim Riggleman said. “Steve has thrown the ball good, pretty much every time out for us this year. That was about as good as it gets. He was outstanding.

“He did a great job in the first inning, leaving the runner stranded at second,” he added. “That was the toughest part of the lineup up there.”

Sammy Sosa homered for the third straight game for the Cubs, who won for only the second time in seven games.

San Diego 5, New York 2--Fernando Valenzuela held the Mets to five hits over 6 2/3 innings, his longest outing for the Padres, and Brian Johnson drove in four runs in the victory at San Diego.

Valenzuela (2-1), who twice worked 6 1/3 innings last season in his first year with the Padres, struck out two and walked one. The left-hander has won eight of his last nine decisions dating to last season.

Valenzuela was replaced in the seventh inning with a runner at third and two outs. Doug Bochtler came on to strike out Rey Ordonez.

Leading 2-1, the Padres scored three runs in the eighth inning. Steve Finley had an RBI single off Butch Henry and Johnson delivered a two-run double off Bob MacDonald.

Johnson went two for three and is eight for 12 with eight RBIs in his last four starts.

Butch Huskey had two hits for the Mets, who have lost six of their last eight games.

The Padres scored in the second on consecutive singles by Ken Caminiti, Wally Joyner and Johnson off Jason Isringhausen (2-4).

San Francisco 2, Philadelphia 1--Matt Williams homered in the seventh inning to snap a tie, leading the Giants to a win over the Phillies at Philadelphia.

With the score tied, 1-1, in the seventh, Williams hit a 1-0 pitch from Sid Fernandez (2-3) deep into the left-field seats for his ninth homer.

Mark Gardner (4-1) struck out nine in 6 1/3 innings and combined with two relievers to strike out 14 Phillies. Gardner gave up one run and five hits before getting into trouble in the seventh.

Barry Bonds had two singles, extending his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games for the Giants, 6-1 on their nine-game road trip.

Atlanta 9, Pittsburgh 3--Tom Glavine (4-3) upped his home record against the Pirates to 10-0, allowing three hits in six shutout innings and leading the Braves to their eighth victory in nine games.

David Justice drove in four runs with an RBI double in the first and a three-run homer in the fifth. Mark Lemke went four for five, helping send Pittsburgh to its fifth-straight loss.

Florida 5, St. Louis 2--After a confrontation between Gary Sheffield and Andy Benes ended in a standoff at Miami, Terry Pendleton belted a grand slam that rallied the Marlins to their eighth consecutive victory.

Benes had a 1-0 lead in the sixth inning when he hit Sheffield on the left arm with a pitch, clearing both benches and resulting in the ejection of both players.

No punches were thrown, but an irate Sheffield had to be restrained three times before he left the field.

Reliever T.J. Mathews walked the next batter to load the bases. Pendleton then hit his fourth career grand slam and fourth homer of the season, giving him 11 RBIs in the past three games.

The Marlins’ winning streak is the longest in the major leagues this season and ties a team record.