NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Palacios’ One-Hitter Silences Astros, 10-0

Vicente Palacios pitched a one-hitter, giving up only a single in the third inning by Andujar Cedeno, and the St. Louis Cardinals routed the Houston Astros, 10-0, Tuesday night at Houston for their first victory since the All-Star break.

The Cardinals, who tied a National League record by blowing an 11-run lead in a 15-12 loss Monday night, had no trouble holding off Houston this time. St. Louis had lost five in a row and eight of 10 games, and was the only team not to win since the All-Star game last Tuesday.

Palacios (2-7) retired the final 21 after Cedeno’s leadoff single in the third. He tied a career-high with eight strikeouts and walked one in his second career shutout.

Only two runners reached base against Palacios, pitching on his 31st birthday. He won for the first time in his last nine starts.

Mark Whiten had three hits, including a homer and a double, drove in three runs and scored three times.

Darryl Kile (6-5) pitched 4 1/3 innings, giving up eight runs on eight hits.

Chicago 6, Colorado 1--Rookie Steve Trachsel remained unbeaten on the road this season, pitching the Cubs past the Rockies, 6-1, in Denver.

Trachsel (9-6) is 8-0 away from Wrigley Field, including two victories at Mile High Stadium.

He gave up one run in eight innings, striking out five and walking one.

Sammy Sosa singled home a run in the first inning, then led off the fourth with a 428-foot homer against David Nied (9-5).

Pittsburgh 13, Atlanta 10--The Pirates blew a five-run lead, then rallied for a five-run seventh inning keyed by Jay Bell’s three-run double to beat the Braves at Pittsburgh.

Three Atlanta errors led to three runs and the Braves’ bullpen was roughed up for seven runs in four innings for their eighth loss to Pittsburgh in 11 games.

Midre Cummings was three for five with two doubles and two runs batted in and Lance Parrish homered and doubled as Pittsburgh ended a three-game losing streak and Atlanta’s four-game winning streak.

Pinch-hitter Bill Pecota’s two-run pinch-double capped Atlanta’s six-run sixth inning against starter Jon Lieber and three relievers, but the Braves’ bullpen couldn’t hold the 9-8 lead.

Cincinnati 13, Florida 5--Ed Taubensee’s bases-loaded single keyed a six-run first inning against Mark Gardner that led the Reds over the slumping Marlins at Cincinnati.

The Central Division leaders had 18 hits as they climbed to a season-best 19 games over .500 (56-37). John Smiley (10-9) gave up seven hits in 6 1/3 innings, including Gary Sheffield’s 20th homer, to send the Marlins to their fifth consecutive loss.

Gardner (3-3) has beaten every National League team except the Reds, who batted around in the first.

Philadelphia 5, San Francisco 2--Danny Jackson pitched eight strong innings and the Phillies ended the Giants’ nine-game winning streak, at Philadelphia.

The Giants had been 9-0 since Darryl Strawberry joined them. But Strawberry, who left Monday night’s game in the second inning because of a sore left hamstring, went hitless in four at-bats and struck out twice.

Pete Incaviglia hit a three-run homer in the sixth for a 4-2 lead, pinning the loss on Bud Black. Incaviglia also hit a three-run homer Monday night.

Montreal 4, San Diego 3--The Expos beat the Padres for the 11th time without a loss this season, taking advantage of four errors to win at Montreal.

Shortstop Luis Lopez made a wild throw that set up two unearned runs. The Padres, who lead the majors with 90 errors, made three errors Monday night in a 9-2 loss at Montreal.

The Expos scored three unearned runs against Andy Ashby.

The last time the Padres won at Olympic Stadium was July 19, 1992.