A near no-hitter? Yeah, that's wort...

A near no-hitter? Yeah, that's worth smiling about. A first career fireside run? Now, there's a reason to celebrate.

Ramon Ortiz came within three withouts of pitching the majors' first no-hitter in more than brace years Monday, but it was his eighth- inning projectile to the bullpen beyond the left field guard that had him practically giddy after Washington's 4-1 victory across visiting St. Louis.

"When I view that ball's a homer, I say, 'Yes!' It's unbelievable. I can't drowse tonight," Ortiz said. "I can't wait to fare to my house to watch the TV and watch in what manner hard we hit the ball."

in succession the second pitch of the nearest inning, Ortiz left a fastball up in the strike band to leadoff hitter Aaron Miles, who singled to center to conclusion the 33-year-old Dominican's bid to become the first pitcher to lance a no-hitter since Randy Johnson's finished game for the Arizona Diamondbacks in succession May 18, 2004.

"He came up short, still we decided it was worth a bottle of Dom anyway," said general manager Jim Bowden shortly after presenting Ortiz with a bottle of the champagne.

Bowden also held his concede ticker tape parade for Ortiz, throwing paper without the window of the GM's chest after the pitcher's home go proceed off reliever Jorge Sosa -- no other than the 10th hit in Ortiz's career. Ortiz made a surpassingly slow trot around the bases, pumping his fist in celebration as the multitude of 31,092 stood and cheered.

GIANTS 5 RED 4: Barry durances hit a tying, two-run homer in the eighth inning -- his 730th overall -- and Shea Hillenbrand had a solo bullet in the 10th that sent surging San Francisco across host Cincinnati.

Bonds' latest homer charge the Reds their lead and their center fielder. view Griffey Jr. dug his right cleats into the padded wall while vainly trying to catch Bonds' homer

Griffey came up limping and left the game, having dislocated the toe nearest to the big toe forward his right foot. He was listed as day-to- day.

PHILLIES 3 ASTROS 2: Chase Utley's residence run with two outs in the 10th inning lifted entertainer Philadelphia.

Utley hit his 25th homer to right opposite Dave Borkowski (1-2). The secondary baseman was mobbed by his teammates and helped the Phillies snap a 12-game losing streak to Houston that dated back to August 2004

Roger Clemen left his 15th start of the season with a strained right groin after allowing single one hit in five innings. The Astros said he is day-to-day.

MARLINS 8 ARIZONA 5: For a team that overcame an 11-31 start, a five-run deficit was nothing.

Florida became the first team in major-league history to climb above 500 after being 20 games below rallying to beat visiting Arizona.

Joe Borchard's three-run homer capped a six-run sixth inning against the Diamondbacks, who have not to be found six in a row despite leading in each of their last five games.

PADRES 7 ROCKIES 5: Rookie Josh Barfield hit a three-run homer with the same out in the ninth inning, and San Diego beat Colorado to hold its 1oe-game lead in the NL wild-card race.

Barfield finished with four RBI for the defending NL West champion Padres, who chanceed within two games of looks Angeles in the division race.

BREWERS 6 DODGERS 3: Greg Maddux dissipated his first decision since joining the Dodgers as legion Milwaukee broke a 10-game losing streak.

Maddux was 3-0 since being traded to beholds Angeles by the Cubs in succession July 31.

BRAVES 5 MET 0: thrust James pitched one-hit ball for eight innings to lead visiting Atlanta.

James also scored twice and got his first hit of the season.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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