Dodgers top Rockies, reclaim NL West

The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES Ÿ Eric Karros homered and scored three times and Tim Wallach hit two sacrifice flies as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Colorado Rockies 7-4 last night to reclaim a half-game lead in the NL West.

The Dodgers rebounded from a 7-3 loss to Colorado on Tuesday to win the series 2-1 and the season set 9-4.

Los Angeles opens a season-ending three-game series at San Diego tomorrow, while the Rockies go home to play their final four games against San Francisco starting today.

Houston lost 6-3 to Pittsburgh yesterday, giving the Rockies a one-game lead over the Astros in the wild-card race.

Kevin Tapani (4-2), who had one decision in his previous five appearances, gave up seven hits and three runs, while striking out two and walking one in six innings. Todd Worrell pitched two innings for his 32nd save in 36 chances.

Karros, who was 1-for-5 Tuesday, snapped a 3-3 tie in the third when he scored on a groundout by Raul Mondesi. Karros walked and took third on a double by DeShields over the head of Larry Walker in right.

Walt Weiss saved two runs for Colorado with a diving stop of a hard grounder up the middle by Wallach.

Karros led off the fifth with a double, scoring on Wallach's sacrifice fly for a 5-3 lead.

Los Angeles added a run in the seventh when Karros hit a solo homer off Roger Bailey, his 32nd of the year and second of the series.

The Dodgers' first run came on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by DeShields that delivered Brett Butler in the first.

They scored twice in the second. Tapani sent a grounder into the hole that scored Mondesi from third. Butler made it 3-0 when he grounded into a force between second and third to bring Roberto Kelly home.

Colorado scored on a three-run homer by Dante Bichette in the third.

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