Hampton returns from injury, leads Braves to win



The Marlins are virtually eliminated from playoff contention.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ATLANTA -- Mike Hampton gave the Atlanta Braves another reason to celebrate, pitching seven scoreless innings on an ailing knee, and a homer by light-hitting Dewayne Wise provided the only run in a 1-0 victory over the Florida Marlins on Saturday night.
Hampton (12-9) made his first start since Sept. 11, when he tore cartilage in his left knee while pitching against Montreal. The left-hander will need surgery to repair the damage, but he's trying to make it through the season first.
After taking two weeks off, Hampton looked like he'll be ready to go in the playoffs. He allowed just three hits and didn't walk anyone.
The Braves clinched their 13th straight division title on Friday night.
The defending World Series champion Marlins are virtually eliminated from playoff contention. They have lost a season-high five in a row, leaving them eight games behind the Chicago Cubs in the wild-card race with eight remaining.
FLORIDAATLANTA
abrhbiabrhbi
Pierre cf4010Thmas lf3000
Easley 2b4000NGreen 2b3000
Conine 1b4000DWise cf3111
Cbrera lf3000CJones 3b3000
Lowell 3b3010Lroche 1b3010
L Duca c3000Mrrero rf3000
AGnzlz ss3000DeRosa ss2000
Aguila rf3010Btemit ss1000
Pavano p2010EddPrz c3000
LHarrs ph1000Hmptn p2000
Seanez p0000TSmith p0000
TMartn p0000
Ritsma p0000
Totals30040Totals26121
Florida000000000--0
Atlanta00000010x--1
LOB--Florida 3, Atlanta 1. 2B--Aguila (2). HR--DWise (4). CS--Pierre (23).
IPHRERBBSO
Florida
Pavano L,17-8721104
Seanez100001
Atlanta
Hampton W,12-9730003
TSmith110000
TMartin1-300000
Reitsma S,2 2-300001
Umpires--Home, Larry Poncino; First, Gerry Davis; Second, Bruce Dreckman; Third, Greg Gibson. T--1:58. A--42,772.
Phillies 4, Expos 3
MONTREAL -- Mike Lieberthal hit a go-ahead single in the 10th inning and Ryan Howard added a run-scoring double to lead Philadelphia.
About 500 Expos fans held a 30-minute rally before the game in the faint hope of dissuading Major League Baseball from moving their hometown team. The Expos, who are likely to be moved to Washington, D.C., before next season, drew 8,491 fans to Olympic Stadium. Montreal has four home games left.
Scott Downs pitched four-hit ball into the eighth inning for Montreal, which allowed Philadelphia to tie it on sacrifice flies by Jimmy Rollins in the eighth and Jason Michaels in the ninth.
PHILAMONTREAL
abrhbiabrhbi
Rollins ss4001Wlkrsn 1b3000
Planco 2b5120EChvez cf5110
BAbreu rf5000TBtsta 3b4211
DaBell 3b4010Sledge lf5011
Collier lf1210JRivra rf5000
Lbrthal c5021EDiaz c2010
Howard 1b4011CCrdro p0000
Mchels lf4111Eschen p0000
Byrd cf3010Mjwski p0000
Worrell p0000Izturis ss4011
BWgnr p0000Harris 2b3010
Mllwod p1010Downs p2000
Floyd p1000Ayala p0000
Crmier p0000Schndr c1000
Burrell ph0000
Utley ph0000
TJones p0000
ToPerz 3b1000
Totals384104Totals34363
Philadelphia0000000112--4
Montreal1010000001--3
LOB--Philadelphia 9, Montreal 8. 2B--Polanco (20), Howard (4). HR--TBatista (32). SB--EnChavez 2 (31). CS--Wilkerson (5). S--Downs. SF--Rollins, Michaels.
IPHRERBBSO
Philadelphia
Millwood241113
Floyd411124
Cormier100000
TJones100010
Worrell W,5-6100001
BWagner S,19111100
Montreal
Downs7 1-341104
Ayala2-300010
CCordero2-321111
Eischen L,0-1111101
Majewski1-331100
HBP--by CCordero (Howard), by Floyd (Harris), by Floyd (EDiaz). Umpires--Home, Tim Welke; First, Mike Fichter; Second, Gary Cederstrom; Third, Andy Fletcher. T--3:31. A--8,491.
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