Braves Lose Despite Historic Triple Play

Rafael Furcal remembered being part of another triple play in the minors.

“But it wasn’t all by myself,” he said.

The Atlanta shortstop turned the 12th unassisted triple play in major league history, though the St. Louis Cardinals beat the visiting Braves 3-2 Sunday night on Albert Pujols’ tiebreaking homer off John Smoltz in the eighth inning.

Furcal single-handedly snuffed out a St. Louis rally in the fifth for the first unassisted triple play in the majors since Oakland second baseman Randy Velarde did it against the New York Yankees on May 29, 2000.

With runners on first and second, Furcal made a leaping grab of pitcher Woody Williams’ liner. The runners were going on a 1-1 pitch, and Furcal stepped on second base to double up Mike Matheny before tagging out Orlando Palmeiro as he made a futile attempt to scamper back to first.

“I didn’t know right away,” Furcal said. “I wasn’t thinking of trying to get three outs by myself, I was just trying to get outs.”

In another enticing game, Sammy Sosa hit two colossal homers off Kevin Brown and Mark Prior outpitched the Dodgers ace with a five-hitter as the Chicago Cubs won 3-1 at Los Angeles.

Elsewhere in the NL, it was Milwaukee 5, Florida 4; Houston 8, Montreal 2; Pittsburgh 5, Colorado 3; San Francisco 5, Philadelphia 2; Arizona 7, New York 4; and San Diego 2, Cincinnati 0.

One of the 12 unassisted triple plays in the modern era (since 1900) came in the 1920 World Series, when Indians second baseman Bill Wambsganss did it in the fifth inning of Game 5 against Brooklyn.

Williams is one of the best hitting pitchers in the majors, with a .250 batting average and seven RBIs. He tried to bunt earlier in the at-bat, then was allowed to swing away.

“That’s amazing,” Williams said. “It’s a nice play on Furcal’s part.”

The Cardinals have hit into two triple plays this season, also doing it April 10 at Colorado.

Gary Sheffield homered and hit a sacrifice fly for the Braves, who took a 2-1 lead into the eighth. But Eduardo Perez homered off Horacio Ramirez with two outs and Pujols followed with his 31st of the season on a 1-0 pitch from Smoltz (0-2).

“I’m used to coming in when we’re ahead,” Smoltz said. “I tried to blow it by him obviously, and it didn’t work. I’m not disgusted with myself, just the result.”

The home run extended Pujols’ hitting streak to 24 games. The Cardinals took two of three from the NL’s top team and manager Tony La Russa said it gets better “only in October.”

Cal Eldred (5-4) worked a hitless eighth for the win, and Jason Isringhausen got three straight outs for his 11th save in 12 chances.

Cubs 3, Dodgers 1

At Los Angeles, Sosa’s homers off Brown traveled a combined estimated distance of 913 feet, helping Chicago end the Dodgers’ six-game winning streak.

Sosa hit a two-run shot in the first inning and a solo drive in the fourth. He has 28 homers this season and 527 in his career.

It was the 61st multihomer game of Sosa’s career, and third this season.

Brown (11-6) allowed five hits in seven innings. The six-time All-Star had not allowed a homer in 80 1-3 innings since May 20.

Prior (10-5) struck out nine and walked one en route to his second complete game this season and third in 40 career starts.

Diamondbacks 7, Mets 4

At Phoenix, Randy Johnson (3-4) went eight innings and won his second straight start for the first time this season.

Luis Gonzalez tripled in the go-ahead run off Al Leiter (11-6) for the Diamondbacks, who moved within two games of Philadelphia and Florida in the wild card race.

Giants 5, Phillies 2

At San Francisco, emergency starter Kevin Correia earned his first major league victory, and Yorvit Torrealba hit a two-run single for the Giants.

Correia (1-0) was a last-minute replacement for San Francisco ace Jason Schmidt, who was scratched to rest the right elbow tendinitis that’s bothered him since the All-Star break.

Brett Myers (11-7) lost for the first time since June 11.

Astros 8, Expos 2

At Houston, Jeff Kent and Lance Berkman hit two of the Astros’ four home runs, backing starter Ron Villone (4-2).

Richard Hidalgo and Brad Ausmus also connected for the NL Central leaders. Jeff Bagwell hit a two-run double.

Orlando Cabrera and Wil Cordero hit consecutive homers for Montreal, which has lost 13 of 15 road games.

Brewers 5, Marlins 4

At Milwaukee, John Vander Wal hit a go-ahead homer and Richie Sexson had a two-run shot as the Brewers snapped a four-game skid.

Mike Lowell hit his 31st homer for Florida.

Pirates 5, Rockies 3

At Denver, Nelson Figueroa (1-0) won after being called up from the minors and Randall Simon hit a two-run homer for Pittsburgh.

Shawn Chacon (11-7) lost his fourth straight decision.

Padres 2, Reds 0

At San Diego, Brian Lawrence (6-14) pitched six sharp innings to snap a personal five-game losing streak.

Rondell White and Gary Bennett each hit an RBI single, sending Danny Graves (4-13) to his sixth consecutive loss.

Rod Beck worked the ninth for his 16th save in 16 chances.