National League Roundup : Astros Beat St. Louis in the Ninth, 7-6

Jose Cruz blasted a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth inning as the Astros came from behind to beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 7-6, Saturday at Houston.

It marked the 22nd time this season the Astros have won in their final at-bat. Charlie Kerfeld (9-2) worked one inning for the victory.

“Hopefully, we’ll be able to look back sometime in October and say this was one of the biggest victories for us,” Houston Manager Hal Lanier said. “When you win these dramatic games, it’s got to be a lift to a team.”

With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Glenn Davis singled off loser Todd Worrell (8-10). One out later, Cruz hit Worrell’s first offering off the screen in right field for his seventh homer of the season and his 10th game-winning RBI.

St. Louis went ahead, 6-5, in the top of the seventh on Ozzie Smith’s infield out.

The Astros gave Bob Knepper a 5-0 lead, but he was unable to hold it, and failed for the fourth straight time to collect his 16th win.

Cincinnati 5, Chicago 1--Ted Power and Ron Robinson combined on a six-hitter and Dave Parker drove in two runs at Cincinnati as the Reds handed the Cubs their seventh straight loss.

The victory boosted the Reds to 70-65, the first time they’ve been five games over .500 this season. They’ve won 10 of their last 13 games to secure a hold on second place in the National League West, trailing Houston by seven games.

Power (6-6), making his fourth consecutive start after 229 relief appearances, yielded five hits and one unearned run over the first seven innings. Robinson checked the Cubs on one hit over the final two innings. Chicago starter Dennis Eckersley (6-9), who hasn’t won since Aug. 4, lasted six innings, giving up seven hits and two runs.

Atlanta 4, Pittsburgh 2--Bob Horner drilled his first career grand slam as the Braves beat the Pirates at Atlanta.

Horner had held the major league record for most home runs in a career, 209, without hitting a grand slam.

The Braves won despite getting only two hits off five pitchers. Glenn Hubbard had the other hit for the Braves, a third-inning single. Pittsburgh relievers John Smiley, Bob Walk, Hipolito Pena and Don Robinson combined to throw five innings of hitless ball.

Atlanta pitcher David Palmer (11-8) surrendered eight hits over six innings to earn the victory. Jeff Dedmon tossed hitless relief over the final three innings to earn his third save. Stan Fansler (0-1) took the loss in his major league debut.

Montreal 3, San Francisco 1--Luis Rivera singled home two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning at Montreal as the Expos beat the Giants.

San Francisco starter Kelly Downs took a three-hitter and 1-0 lead into the eighth, but left after Tim Raines led off with a double. Andre Dawson greeted Frank Williams (2-1) with an infield single that sent Raines to third.

Tim Wallach followed with a grounder to third baseman Luis Quinones, who threw the ball past first base for an error, allowing Raines to score and putting runners at second and third. Rivera then grounded his single up the middle.