Estes to Let His Record Do the Talking

L.A. Times Archives

June 30, 1997 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

Shawn Estes admits thinking about the All-Star game. By extending his winning streak to seven games with San Francisco’s 7-4 victory over Colorado on Sunday at Denver, he increased the chance he will get selected.

“I think I belong and my record speaks for itself,” Estes said. “It’s not my call. It’s all up to [Atlanta Manager] Bobby Cox.”

Estes (11-2), on the longest winning streak of his career, struck out seven, walked four and hit a batter in his six-plus innings of work.

“There is no question he belongs [on the NL All-Star team] and today was another example of why he belongs,” San Francisco Manager Dusty Baker said. “We needed this game, and Shawn pitched well enough to win. He got into some jams like Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux do and got out of them just like Glavine and Maddux.”

Colorado loaded the bases in the seventh inning on singles by pinch-hitter Angel Echevarra and Eric Young and a walk to Quinton McCracken. Larry Walker’s run-scoring single chased Estes, and Andres Galarraga hit a sacrifice fly off Julian Tavarez before Dante Bichette and Vinny Castilla grounded out.

Barry Bonds, Jeff Kent and Damon Berryhill hit solo home runs for the Giants, and Darryl Hamilton and Bill Mueller each had three hits. Bonds’ homer, his 19th, was his 11th in 22 games. The Giants have hit 20 homers in their last 10 games.

Walker, the major league batting leader, was two for three, including a ninth-inning home run. He raised his average to .410. The home run was his league-leading 24th.

Atlanta 6, Philadelphia 5--Pinch-hitter Keith Lockhart hit a grand slam and the Braves overcame a five-run deficit to complete a four-game sweep at Atlanta.

The Braves won their fifth in a row and have taken nine consecutive series from Philadelphia. The Phillies have lost six consecutive games and 14 of 15.

Phillie starter Scott Ruffcorn, 0-7 lifetime with an 8.46 earned-run average, did not give up a hit, but was taken out after 5 1/3 innings because of wildness. He walked four, hit two batters and threw two wild pitches.

The Phillies led, 5-0, in the sixth when Ruffcorn issued a leadoff walk to Chipper Jones and hit Ryan Klesko with one out. Philadelphia Manager Terry Francona then took out Ruffcorn and brought in Ron Blazier.

But Blazier walked Andruw Jones to load the bases, and Mark Lemke hit an RBI single. Lockhart followed with his first grand slam.

With one out in the Atlanta seventh inning, Chipper Jones singled and stole second. Fred McGriff lined a tiebreaking triple down the right-field line off Billy Brewer (0-1).

New York 10, Pittsburgh 8--John Olerud hit two home runs and Butch Huskey, Matt Franco and Todd Hundley also homered as the Mets scored nine runs in the last three innings at Pittsburgh.

Francisco Cordova led, 6-1, until Huskey hit a solo home run and Franco followed with a two-run, pinch-hit homer during a three-run seventh inning.

Kevin Young, who was four for five, homered to make it 7-5 in the bottom half. But Cordova, coming off a two-hit shutout over the Houston Astros, left after walking Edgardo Alfonzo to start the eighth, and reliever Chris Peters (2-2) promptly yielded consecutive home runs to Olerud and Hundley, his fourth in seven games against the Pirates.

St. Louis 6, Cincinnati 5--Ron Gant singled home the go-ahead run in the 12th inning as the Cardinals overcame four blown leads and two long rain delays at Cincinnati.

Danny Sheaffer started the 12th with a single off Hector Carrasco (1-2), advanced on Delino DeShields’ sacrifice and came around on Gant’s single.

John Frascatore (3-2) pitched out of jams in the 10th and 11th innings to get the win, and Dennis Eckersley got the final three outs for his 16th save in 18 opportunities.

Houston 10, Chicago 8--Derek Bell and Brad Ausmus each drove in three runs to back Tommy Greene’s first start in 1 1/2 seasons at Chicago.

Bell hit a solo home run and a two-run single and Ausmus hit a three-run double for the Astros, who lead the NL Central Division at the midway point of the season despite a 40-41 record.

Greene, who missed all of last season because of injuries, started for the first time since Sept. 16, 1995. He was given a 7-0 lead before he tired. Greene, who doubled to drive in a run, struck out seven in 4 1/3 innings.

Florida 5, Montreal 3--Moises Alou and Bobby Bonilla each drove in two runs and the Marlins split their four-game series with the Expos at Miami.

Al Leiter (7-5) gave up three runs in 6 2/3 innings. Leading, 5-0, he gave up two runs in the sixth, but escaped further trouble by pitching out of a bases-loaded jam.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

Player: John Olerud

Team: New York

Performance: 2 for 5, two home runs, 4 RBIs, 2 runs

Team’s Result: Win

Player: Eric Karros

Team: Dodgers

Performance: 2 for 4, home run, 4 RBIs, 2 runs

Team’s Result: Win

Player: Ray Lankford