NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Rapp Wildly Misses No-Hitter For Marlins

Pat Rapp was throwing the ball all over the place, but the Colorado Rockies weren’t hitting it anywhere.

Rapp took a no-hitter into the seventh inning Saturday night before Mike Kingery hit a two-run homer--Colorado’s only hit--with two out as the Florida Marlins defeated the Rockies, 4-2, at Miami.

Rapp (5-5) got the first two outs in the seventh before walking pinch-hitter John Vander Wal--Rapp’s club-record eighth walk. Kingery followed by hitting Rapp’s 3-1 pitch over the wall in right for his third homer.

Rapp, who struck out six, was removed for John Johnstone, who finished the eighth. The Marlins are one of four teams never to have a no-hitter.

“I was tired, but I had to challenge him,� said Rapp, who threw 125 pitches. “I didn’t want to walk a ninth guy. I was just trying to get outs; if the no-hitter came, it came.�

Robb Nen pitched a perfect ninth for his ninth save to complete the combined one-hitter, the first in Marlin history. Despite Rapp’s wildness, the Rockies weren’t selective at the pate.

“He was wild, but just wild enough to get guys chasing at bad pitches,� Colorado Manager Don Baylor said. “It really set up his breaking ball. Some of our guys were just waving at pitches.�

Marvin Freeman (7-2) gave up two runs and seven hits in six innings.

San Francisco 3, Philadelphia 2--Steve Scarsone led the attack as the Giants handed all-star pitcher Danny Jackson his first road loss of the season at San Francisco.

Scarsone had two hits, scored twice and drove in a run in support of William VanLandingham (4-1). Rod Beck got the final four outs for his 18th save, sending the Phillies to their fifth consecutive loss, matching their worst run this season.

Jackson (11-3) was 6-0 with a 3.16 earned-run average in eight previous road starts. He gave up three runs, two earned, and 10 hits over six innings. He struck out eight and walked two, one intentionally.

Darryl Strawberry, one for 15 lifetime against Jackson, did not start for the first time in three games.

Atlanta 5, St. Louis 3--Fred McGriff’s two-run home run made Tom Glavine a 10-game winner before the All-Star break for the fourth consecutive year at Atlanta.

Glavine (10-7), gave up eight hits and three runs in eight innings for his third win in a row. He struck out seven and walked one. Greg McMichael struck out the side in the ninth for his 18th save.

McGriff broke a 3-3 tie in the sixth inning when he knocked in David Justice with his 23rd homer against Omar Olivares (1-1).

Cincinnati 5, Pittsburgh 3--Hal Morris drove in two runs and pitcher Jose Rijo doubled and scored the game-winner as the Reds extended the Pirates’ misery at Cincinnati.

The Pirates have lost nine consecutive games at Riverfront Stadium since July 2 of last year. They’ve also lost four in a row overall and eight of 10.

Rijo (8-4) gave up homers to Jay Bell and Dave Clark to account for all of the Pirates’ runs.

Chicago 7, Houston 3--Sammy Sosa drove in three runs and Anthony Young won for the first time in eight starts in the Cubs’ victory at Chicago.

Young (4-6) gave up one run and three hits in five innings. He left early because of a strained right elbow.

Montreal 5, San Diego 1--Larry Walker hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning and the Expos remained unbeaten against the Padres this season, at San Diego.

Walker’s 16th home run broke a 1-1 tie as the Expos improved to 8-0 overall against the Padres. In the last two years Montreal has won 18 of 20 games against San Diego.

Butch Henry (6-1) held San Diego to one run and six hits in 7 2/3 innings. Scott Sanders (3-6) suffered the loss.