NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Benzinger’s Two Hits Key to Giant Victory

Another day, another hero for the San Francisco Giants.

Thursday belonged to Todd Benzinger, who homered and doubled to lead the Giants to a 6-3 victory over the Pirates at Pittsburgh.

The Giants have won seven of nine games and 16 of their last 22. They are 41 games over .500 (81-40) for the first time since they won a three-game National League playoff over the Dodgers in 1962 to finish that season 103-62.

Bryan Hickerson (6-4) pitched five-hit ball over seven-plus innings. The left-hander is 6-2 in 10 starts, but had lost his previous two.

The Giants got all the offense they would need in a five-run second inning that gave Pirate starter Bob Walk (11-11) his fifth loss in six starts.

Benzinger, batting .409 since replacing the injured Will Clark five games ago, doubled in a run and scored when Walk threw wildly on Dave Martinez’s bunt single. After Mike Benjamin walked and Hickerson followed with a run-scoring groundout, Willie McGee hit his fourth home run to make it a 5-0 game.

Benzinger, batting .464 (13 for 28) in his last nine starts, hit his first homer of the season in the fifth off Paul Wagner.

“I’m just happy to be on a team with so many wins,� he said. “I’m just happy to contribute. We have guys on our bench who have played every day in the past. I have, Dave Martinez has, and that makes us better when we get in there.�

St. Louis 3, San Diego 2--Mark Whiten’s bases-loaded sacrifice fly broke an eighth-inning tie as the Cardinals swept a three-game series at St. Louis.

The Padres, losers of five consecutive games, managed only three hits off Allen Watson and three relievers.

Watson gave up two hits and two runs in 5 2/3 innings and also had two doubles.

Colorado 6, Philadelphia 5--Freddie Benavides hit a three-run homer as the Rockies rallied from a four-run deficit in the eighth inning at Denver.

With Philadelphia leading, 5-1, Jerald Clark hit a one-out triple off Larry Andersen. Danny Sheaffer followed with an RBI groundout, and Vinny Castilla doubled. David West walked Joe Girardi, and Eric Young singled home a run off Roger Mason (4-9), making it 5-3. Benavides then hit his second home run of the season.

Marcus Moore (2-0) pitched two innings and Darren Holmes pitched a perfect ninth for his 15th save.

Montreal 10, Chicago 2--Jeff Fassero pitched a five-hitter for the first complete game of his career, and the Expos scored six unearned runs in the seventh inning at Chicago.

Fassero (8-3), making his eighth start after 161 consecutive relief appearances, struck out nine. Scott Fletcher, who had only three hits in his 38 previous at-bats, hit his sixth home run in a three-run fourth off Frank Castillo (5-8).

Houston 8, Florida 3--Kevin Bass homered, doubled twice and drove in five runs as the Astros swept a three-game series at Houston.

Mark Portugal (12-4) reached 12 victories for the first time in his career, winning his sixth consecutive decision.

Charlie Hough (7-13) gave up five runs and seven hits in three innings as the Marlins lost their fourth in a row.