Pirates Keep Dramatics Going, 9-8

These dramatic comebacks are becoming commonplace in Pittsburgh--Jaromir Jagr and the Penguins one day; Brian Giles, Brant Brown and the Pirates the next.

Giles’ second homer of the game tied it and Brown completed the Pirates’ four-run ninth inning rally with a game-winning single against Robb Nen as the Pirates beat San Francisco, 9-8, Monday night.

Jeff Kent became the first Giant player in eight years to hit for the cycle and went five for five. But Jason Kendall also went five for five and Giles had three hits and five RBIs.

Colorado 6, Chicago 1--The Rockies were relieved to get a victory at Wrigley Field.

A controversial call in the bottom of the eighth inning, in which umpire Jerry Crawford ruled Colorado second baseman Mike Lansing had possession of a throw from third when replays showed he didn’t, sent the crowd into a frenzy that overshadowed Brian Bohanan’s performance in which he went eight-plus innings, giving up five hits and one run, to improve to 5-0.

San Diego 9, Philadelphia 3--Ruben Rivera hit one of the longest home runs in Veterans Stadium history, a 468-foot shot that landed in the next-to-highest deck in left field, as the Padres ended a five-game losing streak.

Atlanta 4, St. Louis 2--On a night when Mark McGwire’s homerless streak stretched into its third week, the Braves scored three runs in the eighth inning at Atlanta and won their sixth in a row.

New York 5, Houston 3--Rick Reed, coming back from a slightly torn calf muscle, pitched six solid innings at New York to lead the Mets to their sixth win in a row.

Cincinnati 4, Arizona 3--Mike Cameron broke out of an 0-for-13 slump by hitting a game-winning, bases-loaded single in the bottom of the ninth at Cincinnati.