Astros Capture Another Division Title

The Houston Astros won their fourth NL Central championship in five years, defeating host St. Louis, 9-2, Sunday behind Shane Reynolds’ 100th career victory.

The Astros clinched home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs.

They will open the first round at home Tuesday against East champion Atlanta.

The Cardinals picked up the wild-card spot and will start Tuesday night at West champion Arizona.

Richard Hidalgo and Jeff Bagwell hit two-run homers for the Astros against Darryl Kile (16-11).

Florida 4, Atlanta 2--The Braves became the first team to make the postseason with a losing record at home, dropping to 40-41 at Turner Field.

Mike Lowell had two hits and three runs batted in for Florida.

Milwaukee 15, Arizona 5--Richie Sexson hit a team record-tying 45th homer and singled during a 10-run fourth inning at Milwaukee.

Luis Gonzalez hit his 57th home run for the Diamondbacks. He had 100 extra-base hits, the 15th player in major league history to accomplish the feat.

Pittsburgh 4, Chicago 3--Sammy Sosa hit his 64th homer, but Chad Hermansen’s three-run homer in the top of the eighth proved the winner.

Sosa, who topped 60 homers for the record third time in his career, finished with the fifth-highest home run total in history.

Philadelphia 4, Cincinnati 1--Randy Wolf (10-11) shut out the Reds into the ninth inning and the Phillies completed their first three-game sweep at Cincinnati since 1989.

Montreal 5, New York 0--Mark Smith had a three-run homer and a wind-aided triple at New York as the Expos finally found a way to beat Glendon Rusch (8-12), who had a 5-0 career record against them in nine previous starts.