Jordan’s Homer, Gaetti’s Double Lead Cardinals Past Padres

The St. Louis Cardinals received a three-run home run from Brian Jordan and a three-run double from Gary Gaetti in an 8-3 victory Friday night over the San Diego Padres at St. Louis.

Gaetti also tripled and scored as the Cardinals won their seventh game in a row.

St. Louis starter Alan Benes was struck on his right wrist by a Steve Finley line drive with two outs in the fifth and had to leave the game. Preliminary X-rays showed no break.

Houston 2, Colorado 1--Back-to-back doubles in the eighth inning by Kirt Manwaring and Bill Spiers enabled the Astros to end a four-game losing streak at Houston.

With the score tied, 1-1, Manwaring doubled to right with two outs off Curtis Leskanic (7-5), and Spiers hit a double off the center-field fence scoring pinch-runner Ray Montgomery.

Atlanta 8, New York 7--Javy Lopez homered twice and the Braves ended a season-high five-game losing streak at Atlanta.

Edgardo Alfonzo dropped Chipper Jones’ pop-up behind second base leading off the ninth inning. Jones came around to score on Terry Pendleton’s one-out single to right against Doug Henry (2-7).

Florida 4, Montreal 0--Kurt Abbott hit a two-run single in the seventh inning as the Marlins snapped Montreal’s six-game winning streak at Miami.

In the Marlins’ half of the seventh, Jeff Conine reached on an infield single and Devon White blooped a double to right.

One out later, Abbott singled to right off Jeff Fassero (14-9), giving Florida a 2-0 lead.

Chicago 6, Philadelphia 4--The Cubs scored three seventh-inning runs without a hit in a victory at Philadelphia.

Chicago turned a 4-2 deficit into a 5-4 lead after Phillie pitchers gave up two walks and the team committed two errors.

Mark Grace scored the go-ahead run after Kevin Stocker’s throw to first went astray as no one covered the bag.

San Francisco 2-1, Cincinnati 0-14--Mike Morgan (5-8) pitched impressively for 5 1/3 innings to win in his debut with the Reds, who gained a doubleheader split with the Giants at Cincinnati.

The Giants won the first game behind eight shutout innings from Osvaldo Fernandez (7-13).