Snow homers three times in Giants’ 16-6 rout of Phillies

Saturday, Aug. 14, 2004 | 7:25 a.m.

J.T. Snow hit three home runs in a game for the first time in his career, and his manager hardly noticed.

"I thought it was two," San Francisco's Felipe Alou said. "He hit three?"

He sure did. The Giants first baseman also scored a career-best five runs and had four RBIs in a 16-6 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night.

"I wasn't going for the fences in any at-bat," Snow said. "I was just trying to hit it hard and drive the ball like I do every at-bat."

Snow, who had just six homers coming in, hit a two-run shot off Brett Myers in the first inning, a solo shot in the fifth and another solo homer in the seventh - both off Amaury Telemaco. He also walked twice.

Snow said the first two homers would've been outs, or maybe off the wall, at home in San Francisco.

"It might be a better place to hit than Coors Field," he said of Citizens Bank Park. "We deserve it. We play in the toughest park to hit."

Snow has homered twice in a game 11 times, most recently on May 8, 2001, against Montreal. Despite his big game, Alou said he planned to give Snow off Saturday against lefty Eric Milton.

"I might have to change my mind," Alou said.

Barry Bonds hit career homer No. 689, A.J. Pierzynski homered and drove in five runs, and Marquis Grissom also homered for the Giants, who moved one game behind Chicago in the NL wild-card race. Their six homers were the most since getting seven on July 2, 2002, at Colorado. They also had a season-high 18 hits.

"We didn't throw the ball very well," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "Myers thought he got squeezed a little and wasn't comfortable with the mound."

In other NL games, it was: St. Louis 4, Atlanta 1; Los Angeles 8, Chicago 1; Colorado 9, Pittsburgh 3; New York 10, Arizona 6; San Diego 14, Cincinnati 5; Milwaukee 6, Florida 4; and Montreal 6, Houston 5 in 12 innings.

At Philadelphia, Snow had a chance at four homers, but struck out swinging against Roberto Hernandez in the ninth.

"I've got to give it a shot," Snow said. "You never know when an opportunity like this will come around again."

Bonds went 2-for-2, scored three runs, had two RBIs and was walked three times, twice intentionally. The two intentional walks gave him a major league-high 86, and helped the Giants break their 2-year-old major league record with 104 intentional walks.

Bonds also moved into 14th place on the career RBIs list with 1,814, passing Frank Robinson.

Brad Hennessey (1-1) earned his first big league victory in his second career start.

Myers (7-9) allowed six runs and walked five in three innings - the sixth start this year he failed to pitch at least five innings.

Cardinals 4, Braves 1

At Atlanta, Woody Williams won his sixth straight decision, Albert Pujols and Larry Walker homered, and St. Louis beat the Braves in the series opener between division leaders.

Williams (9-6) allowed only three hits and one run in seven innings as St. Louis stretched its NL Central lead over the Chicago Cubs to 13 1/2 games.

Dodgers 8, Cubs 1

At Chicago, Odalis Perez outpitched Greg Maddux before the streaking Dodgers pulled away.

Leading 2-1, the Dodgers scored six times in the ninth inning, taking advantage of Chicago's wilting bullpen and the Cubs' wobbly defense. The NL West leaders won for the 28th time in 37 games.

Perez (6-4) gave up six hits and a run in 6 2-3 innings. In his first start since winning his 300th game last Saturday in San Francisco, Maddux (11-8) gave up eight hits and two runs in 6 1-3 innings.

Rockies 9, Pirates 3

At Pittsburgh, Luis Gonzalez, a late addition to Colorado's starting lineup, hit a three-run homer, and Jeff Fassero (3-8) pitched seven strong innings.

Vinny Castilla and Preston Wilson also homered for the Rockies, who have won 13 of 17 on the road.

Mets 10, Diamondbacks 6

At New York, rookie Danny Garcia hit a three-run homer, and Richard Hidalgo and Mike Cameron also connected for the Mets.

It was the eighth straight loss for the Diamondbacks and their 82nd this season, guaranteeing the team that won the World Series in 2001 will finish with a sub-.500 record.

Kris Benson (9-9) earned his first victory for the Mets after being acquired from Pittsburgh on July 30.

Padres 14, Reds 5

At Cincinnati, rookie Khalil Greene had his first two-homer game, and Brian Giles and Ryan Klesko each connected in a five-run first inning for San Diego.

Greene also set career highs with four hits and four RBIs and scored four times as the Padres set a season high for runs.

Brewers 6, Marlins 4

At Milwaukee, Wes Obermueller (4-6) gave up two hits in seven shutout innings in an emergency start and earned his first win since May 29.

Russell Branyan and Lyle Overbay each hit two-run homers for the Brewers, who won for just the third time in 10 games.

Expos 6, Astros 5, 12 innings

At Montreal, Alex Gonzalez hit a tying homer in the 12th inning and Terrmel Sledge singled in the winning run.

Montreal's Jon Rauch became just the second pitcher to homer off Roger Clemens before an injury forced him to abandon a no-hit bid with two outs in the fifth.