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GAME LOG
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The way Russ Ortiz has pitched in August might
get the San Francisco Giants into October.
Ortiz (11-10) won his sixth consecutive start and Barry Bonds
hit his 484th career home run as the Giants beat the Pittsburgh
Pirates 2-0 Wednesday night.
|  | | Rus Ortiz improved to 5-0 with a 1.39 ERA in seven career appearances against the Pirates. |
The right-hander allowed four hits in seven innings and matched
his career high with 12 strikeouts. Ortiz was 6-0 with a 1.31 ERA
in August for the first-place Giants, who lead Arizona by 2½ games
in the NL West.
Asked if he expected Ortiz to be selected as the NL pitcher of
the month, Giants Manager Dusty Baker said, "I don't see how he
can't be. I don't know who's throwing better."
Not that Ortiz is preparing an acceptance speech.
"I couldn't care less, actually," he said. "I'm here to win
championships. I'm not here for myself."
The Pirates loaded the bases with one out in the sixth, but
second baseman Ramon Martinez made a leaping catch of Warren
Morris' liner and Emil Brown struck out on a 95-mph fastball.
The Giants caught a break in the inning because John Vander
Wal's double bounced over the wall in right-center field. Had it
not, Brian Giles would have scored easily.
"That inning was big," Baker said. "(Coach) Robby Thompson
said on the bench that the line drive was a really tough play
because you don't really know how hard the ball is hit. It's kind
of like a change-up coming at you."
Ortiz left for a pinch-hitter in the eighth after throwing 113
pitches. He improved to 5-0 with a 1.39 ERA in seven career
appearances against Pittsburgh. Robb Nen pitched a perfect ninth
for his 32nd save.
"Ortiz is one of the hottest pitchers in the league and we
didn't do very much with him," Pirates Manager Gene Lamont said.
"That's as good as I've ever seen him throw and that's saying
something because he's had some good games against us."
The Giants have won 11 of 16 games.
Bonds' home run was his 39th of the season and came in the
fourth off Jimmy Anderson (4-7). Bonds doubled with two outs in the
sixth and scored on Ellis Burks' single.
"Both starters pitched really well," Bonds said. "(Anderson)
just made one mistake to me and he gave up a hit to Ellis. It could
have gone either way."
Bonds has 89 homers at Three Rivers Stadium, second only to
Willie Stargell's 147. Baker expects to give Bonds the day off
Thursday, meaning this might have been the All-Star outfielder's
final game at Three Rivers, where his major league career began in
1986 with Pittsburgh.
"It was a good finale for Barry here," Baker said.
Anderson lost his third consecutive start. Lamont said Anderson
strained a groin muscle in the game, which was a factor in his
leaving after six innings.
The Pirates, who beat the Giants 8-0 on a one-hitter Tuesday,
have not won consecutive games since they defeated San Diego at
home July 28-29.
Game notes
Bonds has passed Stan Musial, Stargell, Dave Winfield and
Carl Yastrzemski on the career home run list this year. His next
target is No. 17 Lou Gehrig at 493. ... The Pirates are 8-20 this month
with one game left. ... Ortiz's other 12-strikeout game came
against Houston on June 25.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
San Francisco Clubhouse
Pittsburgh Clubhouse
RECAPS
Kansas City 8
Minnesota 7
Chi. White Sox 8
Oakland 3
Tampa Bay 3
Boston 1
Baltimore 5
Detroit 1
Cleveland 5
Texas 3
Toronto 11
Anaheim 2
NY Yankees 5
Seattle 4
Chicago Cubs 5
San Diego 1
Atlanta 5
Cincinnati 2
St. Louis 4
Florida 2
Arizona 7
Montreal 0
San Francisco 2
Pittsburgh 0
NY Mets 1
Houston 0
Colorado 5
Philadelphia 4
Milwaukee 3
Los Angeles 2
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