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  Monday, Sep. 18 10:15pm ET
Fernandez gets best of ex-teammates
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME LOG

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- More than five years ago, Osvaldo Fernandez defected from Cuba. Soon afterward, he signed with San Francisco and spent four frustrating years with the Giants.

Osvaldo Fernandez
Osvaldo Fernandez fired his first complete game in four years against his former team.
On Monday night, the Giants were victims of the talent they spent serious time and money to develop.

Fernandez pitched a four-hitter for his first complete game in four years, outdueling Shawn Estes for his first win since May 30 as the Cincinnati Reds beat San Francisco 7-1 Monday night.

The Giants gave up on the injury-plagued pitcher last winter. In his first appearance at San Francisco's new ballpark, he pitched his best game in years.

"This is what we hoped to see from him," San Francisco manager Dusty Baker said. "But he's healthy now, and I see why we signed him. He kept the ball down, had good movement, and he wasn't in trouble all night."

The Giants, who lost for just the fourth time in September, opened an eight-game homestand during which they hope to clinch the NL West title. They still hold the majors' best record at 89-60, and Arizona's 2-1 loss to the Dodgers dropped San Francisco's magic number to five.

But they were stymied by a former teammate making his third start since servnig a two-month stint on the disabled list and in the minors. Fernandez (3-3) kept the potent San Francisco offense quiet with surprising ease, throwing with expert control and staying ahead of nearly every hitter.

San Francisco got just one runner to second base before the ninth, when Barry Bonds hit a two-out RBI double to spoil what would have been Fernandez's first career shutout.

It was still his first complete game since Aug. 25, 1996, against Montreal, while he was still a promising prospect for the Giants, and the third of his career.

"It's nice to play against this team, because I have a lot of good friends over there," said Fernandez, pounding his chest twice for emphasis as he spoke through an interpreter.

"I'm just feeling good, and I'm healthy now. I'm doing my best to pitch well."

After Fernandez defected in July 1995, the Giants outbid several teams for his services with a three-year, $3.9 million contract that was thought by many to be overpriced.

In his first two years with San Francisco, he went 10-17. He spent the next two years battling severe elbow problems that kept him from throwing a pitch in 1998 and limited him to four games with Single-A San Jose last year.

"He's pitched well for us ever since we've had him," Cincinnati manager Jack McKeon said. "When he came back (from the minors), he was pitching just like that. Excellent job. Complete command."

Alex Ochoa had four hits, scored three runs and drove in another for the Reds, who won their fourth straight and eighth in 10 games.

Ochoa, who has 17 hits in his last 32 at-bats (.531) while trying to win the Reds' right-field spot for next year, extended his hitting streak to a career-high nine games with the second four-hit game of his career.

Benito Santiago hit a ninth-inning homer and drove in three runs for the Reds.

Cincinnati handed Estes (15-5) just his second loss since June 10. Estes, who allowed nine hits and four runs while walking three and striking out six, led the majors in winning percentage before the game and had won three straight.

"I didn't do very good damage control," said Estes, who walked Fernandez with the bases loaded in the second to give Cincinnati its first run. "I let the game get out of reach. (But) this team has been very resilient when it comes to losing, so I expect we'll come back and play very hard."

Cincinnati's three-run fifth inning was prolonged when Bonds ran toward Sean Casey's drive into left field but made an awkward slide and missed the ball. It bounced into the seats, and Cincinnati then scored two-out runs on Ochoa's double and Santiago's single.

The Reds played their seventh straight game without Ken Griffey Jr., who didn't take a scheduled batting practice session before the game. Griffey, who partially tore his left hamstring last week, will try to hit again on Tuesday.

Game notes
Estes dropped into a tie with Randy Johnson for the NL lead in winning percentage. Boston's Pedro Martinez (17-5, .773) leads the majors. ... The Giants drew the 3 millionth fan to Pacific Bell Park on Monday night, increasing the franchise's season attendance record and also setting a record for any Bay Area sports team. The lucky fan was 76-year-old Peggy Long of Vallejo, Calif., who won season tickets in 1985 and has been a faithful fan ever since. ... The Reds got their first win at Pac Bell. They were swept in a three-game series earlier this year. ... Bill Mueller leaned over a sideline railing to make a nifty grab of Ochoa's pop foul in the seventh.
 


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