Cordova Continues to Baffle Astro Hitters in 10-1 Victory

The Houston Astros’ biggest worry when they oppose Francisco Cordova isn’t necessarily winning. More often, they are just as concerned with merely getting a hit.

Cordova, who teamed with Ricardo Rincon for the only two-pitcher extra-inning no-hitter in major league history in 1997, kept Houston hitless again for 7 1/3 innings before yielding two hits in the eighth inning of the Pirates’ 10-1 romp Thursday at Pittsburgh.

The Astros didn’t have anything resembling a hit off Cordova (1-0) until rookie catcher Mitch Meluskey doubled off the center-field wall with one out in the eighth.

“He must salivate every time we come in,” Jeff Bagwell said of Cordova, who has a string of low-hit games against Houston.

“He’ll probably send a limo every time we’re in town.”

The Pirate offense finally did after being outscored, 16-5, in the first two games of the season. Brian Giles had five hits with two solo homers and a triple, missing only a double for the cycle.

St. Louis 13, Chicago 3--J.D. Drew hit two home runs, including a grand slam, as the Cardinals completed a dominating sweep of the Cubs at St. Louis.

Fernando Tatis, Drew and Mike Matheny homered in consecutive at-bats in a seven-run third against Kyle Farnsworth. Drew hit his first career grand slam in a five-run fourth that gave the Cardinals a 13-2 lead.

The Cardinals have homered nine times in their first three games, none by Mark McGwire. McGwire started for the first time Thursday and played five innings.

Arizona 3, Philadelphia 2--Lenny Harris’ broken-bat grounder with the bases loaded drove in the winning run in the 11th inning as the Diamondbacks completed a season-opening three-game sweep at Phoenix.

Philadelphia’s 0-3 start is its worst since 1987, when it was 0-4.

San Diego 8, New York 5--Matt Clement kept New York’s offense in a slumber, giving up one run in 6 2/3 innings, as the Padres spoiled Mike Hampton’s home debut.

Hampton lost his second straight start, giving up four runs--two earned--five hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings.

New York had been held scoreless for 15 innings before Edgardo Alfonzo walked with the bases loaded in the seventh.

Florida 5, San Francisco 4--Cliff Floyd hit a two-run homer with two out in the ninth as the Marlins rallied from a four-run deficit before a record-low turnout of 7,741 at Miami.

Cincinnati 5, Milwaukee 1--Ken Griffey Jr. got his first hit for his hometown team, a run-scoring single in the first inning at Cincinnati, and the Reds got their first win.

Griffey got a standing ovation from the crowd when he slapped a 3-and-2 pitch from Jaime Navarro toward left-center.

The single scored Pokey Reese with the Reds’ first run and ended Griffey’s 0-for-10 introduction into the National League.

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

* Brian Giles, Pittsburgh: 5 for 5, triple, 2 homers, 4 RBIs in 10-1 victory over Houston.

* J.D. Drew, St. Louis: 2 for 3, grand slam, 5 RBIs in 13-3 victory over Chicago.

* Orlando Cabrera, Montreal: 3 for 4, homer, 4 RBIs in 11-3 victory over the Dodgers.

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PITCHING

* Francisco Cordova, Pittsburgh: 8 innings, 2 hits, 7 strikeouts in 10-1 win over Houston.

* Joe Nathan, San Francisco: 7 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 9 strikeouts in 5-4 loss to Florida.

* Carl Pavano, Montreal: 8 innings, 5 hits, 1 run, 1 walk in 11-3 victory over the Dodgers.