National League Roundup : Brown Hits Homer, and Giants Edge Padres Again, 2-1

There may be a lot of changes in baseball this season, but one thing appears to be the same. The San Diego Padres are still playing one-run games.

They opened the 1986 season by playing 10 consecutive games decided by a single run. The Padres have played three games this season and, guess what? They have all been one-run games.

There is a difference. A year ago, the Padres broke in front in the West by winning seven of those first 10. But Wednesday, Chris Brown hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning at San Francisco to give the Giants a 2-1 victory, handing the Padres their third tough defeat in a row.

It is the Giants’ first 3-0 start since 1979.

Brown, who has had trouble pulling the ball since undergoing shoulder surgery in November, went the opposite way (to right) for his home run.

“I’ll start pulling the ball as my timing improves,” Brown said, “but I don’t mind going with the pitch.”

Roger Mason held the Padres to four hits in seven innings and, when he faltered in the eighth, Scott Garrelts came on to get the last four outs.

Cincinnati 7, Montreal 2-- Bo Diaz and Buddy Bell each had three hits and drove in three runs at Cincinnati to back the sharp pitching of Bill Gullickson to get the Reds off to a 2-0 start.

Gullickson, an ex-Expo, gave up just four hits in seven innings. Ron Robinson gave up only one hit in the last two innings.

Dave Parker hit a home run for the Reds.