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GAME LOG
HOUSTON (AP) -- The Giants like hitting in Enron Field so much,
they wouldn't mind staying there.
"This place is a hitters' paradise, man," Ellis Burks said
after homering and driving in three runs in Saturday's 13-4 rout of
Houston. `I thought Coors Field was a great hitters' park, but this
place tops them all."
San Francisco had 22 hits, its highest total since June 12,
1999, against Seattle and the most off Houston since July 15, 1996,
at Florida.
Jeff Kent had four hits, including two in San Francisco's
seven-run third inning against Shane Reynolds (6-4), and Doug
Mirabelli had a career-high five hits.
"The offense kept going, everybody got a hit except Barry
(Bonds)," Giants manager Dusty Baker said. "Games like this don't
come along very often, especially against a quality pitcher like
Reynolds."
Mirabelli went 5-for-6 with a three-run homer, three doubles and
a single. "We were all pulling for him to get that fifth hit, but a
triple was probably too much for him," Baker said.
Mirabelli doubled to right in the eighth and thought about going
for third.
"The ball was already back in the infield. If there had been
any doubt, I would have one for it," he said. "No question this
was the best game I've ever had in the majors. The hitters all know
if you just concentrate and get the barrel of the bat on the ball
here it's got a chance of going out."
Burks has homered in 36 ballparks, tied with Tampa Bay's Fred
McGriff for the second-most, one behind Mark McGwire of St. Louis.
"That's a nice little stat, something I'll look back on when
I'm done playing," he said. "I was more happy with getting a home
run for my son. It's his birthday today and he asked me to hit one
for him for his birthday."
Ramon Martinez tied a career-high with three hits and drove in
three runs as San Francisco won for the eighth time in 11 games.
Reynolds (6-4) was pounded for eight runs -- six earned -- and 10
hits in 2 2-3 innings, his shortest outing since last Sept. 20 at
Pittsburgh.
"He's tough in the past, but I don't think he had his good
splitter today," Kent said.
Astros shortstop Tim Bogar made his second relief appearance of
the season and allowed J.T. Snow's ninth-inning homer. "J.T. owes me," Bogar said.
On June 10 at San Diego, Bogar pitched a perfect inning. "Obviously, if I'm out there, it's not a good game," he said.
"I do what I can to help the team. But I hope I don't have to
pitch again."
Moises Alou tied a career-high with four hits for the Astros
(26-47), who have the worst record in the major leagues and dropped
21 games under .500 for the first time since Oct. 6, 1991.
Kent, who went 4-for-6 to raise his average to .344, leads the
NL with 71 RBIs. Bonds was the only Giants starter without a hit,
going 0-for-3 with three walks.
Giants starter Joe Nathan (4-1) allowed four runs and nine hits
in six innings.
Martinez drove in the first run with a second-inning single, and
San Francisco sent 13 men to the plate during a seven-run third
inning, taking an 8-0 lead.
The Giants loaded the bases on singles by Bill Mueller and Kent,
and a walk to Snow. Burks hit a potential inning-ending,
double-play grounder to third, but rookie Chris Truby bobbled it
for an error as Mueller to score.
"His feet weren't right because he was trying to get himself in
position for the double play," Astros manager Larry Dierker said.
"His error was a key point of that inning. But if you're pitching,
you can't quit.
"Shane still could have pitched out of it if he covers first on
that one play. You've got to keep going."
Martinez lined an 0-2 pitch for a two-run double, and
Mirabelli's homer made it 7-0. The Giants reloaded the bases with
two outs on singles by Marvin Benard and Mueller and a walk to
Bonds, and Kent followed with his second hit of the inning. Mike Maddux relieved and struck out Snow.
"They just hit everything I threw up there," Reynolds said.
"I pitched a few pretty good pitches and they still hit them."
Truby's RBI single in the fourth ended Nathan's shutout bid. The
rookie added a two-run double in the fifth.
Game notes
Astros 2B Craig Biggio did not start because of a bruised
right shin. ... The Giants lead the league in road offense (7.08
runs per game, 248 runs in 35 games). ... Kent has 27 multihit
games. ... Reynolds tied Nolan Ryan for fifth on the Astros' career
list for homers allowed (128).
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Houston Clubhouse
RECAPS
Cleveland 8
Detroit 1
Detroit 14
Cleveland 8
(2nd game)
NY Yankees 12
Chi. White Sox 8
Kansas City 8
Oakland 3
Toronto 6
Boston 4
Seattle 2
Baltimore 1
Tampa Bay 9
Texas 7
Minnesota 11
Anaheim 5
St. Louis 6
Los Angeles 1
Philadelphia 8
Montreal 1
San Francisco 13
Houston 4
Cincinnati 11
San Diego 5
Florida 7
Chicago Cubs 4
Milwaukee 2
Atlanta 1
NY Mets 10
Pittsburgh 8
Colorado 4
Arizona 0
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