NL Best in Interleague Play

For the second time in three years, the National League beat the American League in interleague play, going 135-116.

Led by a 12-3 record by the Houston Astros this year, the NL is 362-327 in the three years of interleague play.

Attendance averaged 33,482, up 21.7% from the intraleague average of 27,512. But even without interleague play, attendance is usually higher in June and July than the first two months of the season.

This year’s attendance was helped by the increase in games between traditional rivals to six. The New York Mets set a three-game record by drawing 161,481 for their series against the New York Yankees. The Angels set an Edison Field record by drawing 127,446 for a three-game series against the Dodgers.

Interleague games averaged 33,407 during their first season in 1997, 31,447 last year.

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Andres Galarraga of the Atlanta Braves, sidelined since being diagnosed with back cancer in February, attended Wednesday’s game against the Florida Marlins at Miami and said he’ll complete radiation treatments early next month. Galarraga said he’ll then join the Braves for workouts, and he expects to play in 2000. . . . Closer Rod Beck of the Chicago Cubs was activated from the disabled list, 8 1/2 weeks after surgery to remove bone spurs and several chips from his right elbow. The Cubs had expected him to be sidelined 12 to 14 weeks. . . . Third baseman Scott Rolen of the Philadelphia Phillies left Wednesday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers because of a strained lower back and will sit out today’s game. . . . The Phillies recalled catcher Bobby Estalella from triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. . . . The San Francisco Giants activated infielder Charlie Hayes from the 15-day disabled list and optioned infielder Ramon Martinez to Fresno of the Pacific Coast League.