The Cincinnati Reds cashed in on Los Angeles' three errors and passed ball in the first inning and piled up 14 hits Saturday to beat the bumbling Dodgers 11-1 for their 14th victory in 18 games.
The Reds scored four first-inning runs - only one earned - off Tom Candiotti (6-5) as the NL's worst-fielding team booted a grounder, botched a relay throw and had a costly collision on a popup.Barry Larkin doubled home two runs and two more runs scored when shortstop Jose Offerman and second baseman Juan Samuel collided on a potential inning-ending popup, starting the Dodgers towards their eighth loss in 11 games.
The Reds clinched with six more runs in the sixth off Tim Crews, highlighted by Dave Martinez's two-run triple.
Tim Belcher (6-6), outpitched by Candiotti in the Dodgers' 1-0 victory June 7, allowed just four hits over seven innings, including Eric Karros' eighth homer in the sixth inning.
Belcher, who went to Cincinnati in the Eric Davis trade last November, has been sensational against his former teammates. He gave up just three hits over seven innings in the loss to Candiotti.
Candiotti's knuckler and his defense failed him in the first inning, when the Reds had three hits and the Dodgers botched three routine plays.
Bip Roberts led off with a single to center. Martinez followed with a one-hop grounder at Offerman, who let the potential double-play grounder go through his legs untouched for his 13th error in 55 games. Center fielder Brett Butler then compounded the error with one of his own, skipping his relay back to second base to let Martinez continue to second.
Larkin pulled a double into the left-field corner to score both runners, then was thrown out trying to steal third. Reggie Sanders doubled with two out, Hal Morris walked, and the runners advanced on a passed ball by Mike Scioscia. Samuel then bumped into Offerman as he tried to catch Chris Sabo's pop near second base, drawing the error that let in two more runs.
The Dodgers have made 54 errors in 57 games for the NL's worst fielding percentage.
Cincinnati had six hits and a walk off Crews in the sixth. Belcher and Larkin had RBI singles, Roberts doubled home a run, Martinez tripled home two, and a the sixth run scored on a grounder.
Braves 4, Padres 2
At Atlanta, David Justice's two-run double keyed a four-run third inning as the surging Atlanta Braves defeated the San Diego Padres for their third victory in a row and 12th in 14 games.
The victory pushed the Braves to 32-29, the first time all season the defending National League champions have been three games over .500.
John Smoltz (7-5) allowed six hits in his second consecutive complete game over the Padres and fourth complete game of the season. He also beat San Diego 9-4 last week. The Atlanta right-hander struck out five and walked one.
Cubs 4, Expos 3
At Chicago, light-hitting Gary Scott drove in two runs, including the tie-breaker in the sixth inning, leading the Chicago Cubs to victory over the Montreal Expos.
It was the third straight win and fifth in the last six games for the Cubs who climbed out of the National League East cellar ahead of the Expos.
Cardinals 4, Phillies 1
At St. Louis, Ray Lankford had a two-run homer and Omar Olivares, just off the disabled list, worked 6 2/3 strong innings as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Philadelphia Philles.
Olivares (3-3), activated just before the game following a groin pull on May 26, allowed five hits with five strikeouts and two walks.
Astros 4, Giants 1
At Houston, Luis Gonzalez, who spent two weeks in the minors because of prolonged slump, hit a tie-breaking three-run homer to lead Houston to victory over the San Francisco Giants, snapping the Astros' six-game losing streak.
Jeff Brantley (2-3) walked Ken Caminiti and Jeff Bagwell in the seventh inning before Gonzalez hit a 3-2 pitch to right for his second homer of the season.
Pirates 3, Mets 2
At New York, Barry Bonds tied the score in the eighth inning with a home run and pinch-hitter Orlando Merced put Pittsburgh ahead with a run-scoring double as the Pirates beat the slumping New York Mets.
Pittsburgh has won four straight games and nine of its last 11. Meanwhile, the Mets have lost four straight and seven of nine to fall six games behind the first-place Pirates in the National League East - and just 11/2 games out of last place.