Kent, Santiago both put it home in ninth

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Another no-decision for Kirk Rueter, another

big win for the San Francisco Giants.

---

Jeff Kent and Benito Santiago hit solo home runs in the ninth

inning and the Giants kept pushing toward the NL wild-card slot,

beating the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1 on Sunday.

San Francisco began the day with a two-game lead over Los

Angeles, which played at San Diego, for the wild card.

The Giants swept the three-game series at Miller Park. They have

won five of six and 24 of 34.

Rueter limited Milwaukee to one run and three hits in seven

innings.

Rueter's record remained 13-8 -- but the Giants are 11-0 in games

in which he starts and gets no-decision.

"As long as we win, I'm fine,'' Rueter said. "We just need

wins, no matter who gets them.''

Felix Rodriguez (8-6) got one out for the victory. Robb Nen

pitched the ninth for his 41st save in 49 chances.

"He just keeps us in games, big time, until something happens

dramatic, like it did in the top of the ninth,'' Giants manager

Dusty Baker said.

San Francisco now returns to Pacific Bell Park for five games,

beginning Tuesday against San Diego. If necessary, the Giants will

play a makeup game at Atlanta on Sept. 30.

Kent's 37th homer came with one out against Luis Vizcaino (5-2)

and broke a 1-all tie. After Barry Bonds grounded out, Santiago hit

a 420-foot drive to center field.

"They hit two homers off one of our best pitchers,'' said

Milwaukee manager Jerry Royster. "That's exactly how our season

has gone.''

Santiago's homer was the 200th of his 16-year major league

career.

"I'm not a home-run hitter,'' Santiago said. "Two hundred is

200. I'll take it.''

The Giants needed those dramatics after Milwaukee starter Ben

Sheets dueled Rueter to a draw.

Sheets held the Giants to three hits and one run in eight

innings, walking two and striking out six. Rueter had three walks

and three strikeouts in his outing.

Sheets, who avoiding tying the club's NL record for losses with

17, again got poor run support. The Brewers have scored just 26

runs in his 16 losses, with three shutouts.

"I just go out and keep battling,'' Sheets said. "I'd like to

get runs and get wins, but I'm not going to point fingers. We go

down as a team. Hopefully, we'll win more games next year.''

Bonds doubled to lead off the Giants second, and scored on

consecutive groundouts by Santiago and J.T. Snow.

Milwaukee scored in the third when Sheets drew a walk and scored

on a double by Ryan Christenson.

The Brewers got a leadoff double in the eighth from pinch-hitter

Lenny Harris, but pinch-runner Eric Young was stranded at second

after two lineouts and a flyout.

In the series, Milwaukee scored three runs on 14 hits.

Game notes

The Brewers' exaggerated shift on Bonds paid off with a

4-5-3 double play in the fourth inning. With Rich Aurilia on first,

Bonds grounded sharply between first and second. Second baseman

Ronnie Belliard fielded and threw to third baseman Keith Ginter,

who had shifted into the shortstop position. Ginter threw to Richie

Sexson at first to complete the double play. ... Five of the nine

hitters in Milwaukee's lineup were batting under .200. ... Sexson

has been stuck at 99 RBI for 13 games.