The Associated Press

Craig Paquette, acquired from the New York Mets at the trade deadline, had a go-ahead hit for the third straight game – a two-run double in the ninth inning of the Cardinals’ 6-5 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night.

Wednesday, August 18, 1999

Craig Paquette, acquired from the New York Mets at the trade deadline, had a go-ahead hit for the third straight game – a two-run double in the ninth inning of the Cardinals’ 6-5 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night.

Paquette hit a two-out, two-run single in the ninth Sunday to beat the Chicago Cubs 6-5 and a three-run homer in the sixth Monday in a 4-2 victory over the Phillies.

”I was thinking while I was out in the field that somehow, something would happen where I would be coming up to the plate in the same situation,” said Paquette, traded by the Mets for Shawon Dunston.

McGwire, 1-for-2 with a double, a sacrifice fly and two walks, led off the ninth with a walk off Wayne Gomes (3-2).

Ray Lankford singled and Fernando Tatis hit a would-be double-play grounder to Scott Rolen, but it slipped under the third baseman’s glove for an error that loaded the bases.

Paquette, who has 14 RBIs in 14 games with the Cardinals, lined the next pitch to the warning track in right-center, with the ball hopping over the wall. He is hitting .313 since joining the Cardinals.

”If you saw a movie you would say, ”Wow, it’s doggone Hollywood,” Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. ”You just can’t believe it; it’s not possible, really, that he could do it three days in a row.”

McGwire, who has 19 homers since the All-Star break, has not connected in 18 at-bats since Saturday.

Expos 2, Giants 1

At San Francisco, Brad Fullmer hit a leadoff home run in the 12th inning after Montreal rallied to tie it in the ninth.

Dan Smith (4-6) pitched three hitless innings for the victory, and Ugueth Urbina got three outs for his 28th save. Pitchers on both teams combined for 29 strikeouts, including a record-tying four by Montreal’s Steve Kline in the seventh.

Fullmer connected in the 12th off John Johnstone (4-6).

Astros 8, Brewers 6

At Houston, Ken Caminiti hit a go-ahead, two-run single off Cal Eldred (1-6) in his second game since coming off the disabled list for the Astros.

Craig Biggio homered to back Scott Elarton (7-3), who allowed four runs and eight hits in six innings, striking out seven and walking one.

Billy Wagner got the final out for his 29th save.

Rockies 3, Braves 2

Edgard Clemente went 3-for-3 with two doubles, and five Colorado pitchers held off Atlanta despite allowing 10 hits.

Atlanta, tied with the New York Mets for the NL East lead, lost for just the second time in eight games.

Terry Mulholland (7-7) allowed three runs and seven hits in seven innings, dropping to 1-6 at Coors Field, where he has a 8.57 ERA.

Diamondbacks 4, Cubs 0

At Phoenix, Brian Anderson (5-2) threw a three-hitter in what might be his last start of the season for Arizona.

Greg Colbrunn’s bases-loaded triple in the first inning gave Anderson all the offense he needed.

The Diamondbacks opened their biggest lead yet over second-place San Francisco in the NL West – 8 1/2 games.

Anderson, who will lose his spot in the rotation Friday when Todd Stottlemyre comes off the disabled list, struck out five and didn’t walk a batter.

Padres 3, Mets 2

At San Diego, Woody Williams pitched 7 1-3 strong innings and got back at Al Leiter by driving in two runs for the Padres.

Williams (6-11) drove in San Diego’s first two runs with a bases-loaded walk in the second inning and a double in the fourth.

Williams lost to Leiter (10-8) and the Mets 9-3 at Shea Stadium last Thursday, with Leiter hitting a three-run double in the fifth for the Mets’ final runs.

Marlins 6, Dodgers 1

A.J. Burnett won in his major league debut and also singled for Florida at Los Angeles.

Burnett, 22, was called up from Double-A Portland on Monday night. The right-hander gave up one run on five hits in 5 2-3 innings, struck out four and walked two.