National League Roundup : Gwynn Steals 5 Bases, but Astros Beat Padres

The Houston Astros and the San Diego Padres, headed in opposite directions, rolled up some impressive numbers Saturday night at the Astrodome.

The Astros collected 16 hits in beating the Padres, 10-6, to lower their magic number to four. Houston’s Mike Scott (17-10) struck out 11 batters in 7 innings, the 10th time this season he has gone into double figures.

Scott, the major league leader in strikeouts, has 285, the most for the Astros since J.R. Richard had 313 in 1979.

Meanwhile, San Diego’s Tony Gwynn stole five bases in the game to tie the modern league record with four others, most recently Alan Wiggins in 1984. Eddie Collins holds the major league record of six steals in a game.

Jose Cruz hit a two-run homer for Houston and drove in three runs, while Bill Doran and Glenn Davis had two RBIs each.

“I’m very pleased with the way we’re swinging the bats,” Astro Manager Hal Lanier said. “We’ve had double figures in hits in seven of the last eight games or so, and it’s nice to be swinging some hot bats as we head into the playoffs.”

Ray Hayward (0-1) was the loser in his first major league appearance as the Padres dropped their seventh straight on the road.

Chicago 1, Pittsburgh 0--Jamie Moyer, Ed Lynch and Lee Smith combined on an eight-hit shutout, and Ryne Sandberg hit a home run to lead off the sixth inning for the Cubs at Chicago.

Sandberg’s first home run since Aug. 1 and his 14th of the season spoiled another fine performance by Pittsburgh’s Rick Rhoden (15-10), who allowed just four hits in eight innings. Moyer (6-4) got the win for Chicago, while Smith picked up his 28th save.

The Pirates had runners on second and third in the ninth inning, but they were stranded when Barry Bonds flied to left field for the third out.

New York 9, Philadelphia 5--Catcher John Gibbons had four hits, including his first major league home run, and outfielder Stanley Jefferson also hit his first big league homer as the Mets broke a six-game losing streak against the Phillies with the win at New York.

Ron Darling (14-5) got the win, while Tom Hume (4-1) surrendered five runs in the sixth inning in relief of starter Bruce Ruffin and took the loss.

St. Louis 3, Montreal 1--Ricky Horton, making only his seventh start of the season, pitched a complete-game six-hitter for the Cardinals at Montreal.

“When you go nine innings against a club like Montreal with all the right-handed hitters they’ve got, and you throw only 86 pitches, you’ve done a hell of a job,” St. Louis Manager Whitey Herzog said.

Atlanta 2, San Francisco 1--Charlie Puleo pitched a three-hitter and struck out eight for his first win since July 1984 and his first complete game since May 1982, and also drilled an RBI single to lead the Braves at Atlanta.