National League Roundup : Mets Lose Pitcher but Get Homers and 4-3 Win

Dwight Gooden isn’t due back for more than a week, and they lose a pitcher almost daily, but the New York Mets are showing signs of getting out of their rut.

Darryl Strawberry and Gary Carter hit back-to-back home runs in the ninth inning at San Francisco Wednesday to give the World Series champions a 4-3 victory and a sweep of the three-game series with the Giants. The Mets have won six out of their last eight games.

The Mets had to overcome an injury to rookie right-hander David Cone, their third pitcher to go out in four days.

Cone broke the knuckle on the little finger of his throwing hand when he was hit by a pitch while trying to bunt in the fifth inning. He had given up just two hits in four innings.

Before Tuesday’s game, Rich Aguilera found his elbow too sore to pitch. Last Sunday, Sid Fernandez aggravated a knee injury and had to come out.

In addition to the injuries, the Mets have been getting inconsistent pitching from reliever Roger McDowell.

McDowell, a loser Sunday against the Dodgers, appeared to be a loser again when the Giants, held to two hits through seven innings, tagged him for three hits and two runs to take a 3-2 lead in the eighth.

Mark Davis replaced Atlee Hammaker, who had pitched a solid eight innings. The only damage to the Hammaker was a two-run home run by Strawberry in the fourth.

Strawberry greeted Davis with a home run, his 13th, giving the left-handed hitter two home runs against left-handers, to tie it. Jeff Robinson (3-4) was brought in to face Carter. Carter hit his fourth home run of the season and his first since April 20 on a hanging slider to make McDowell (2-1) the winner. Robinson also lost Tuesday’s game.

When McDowell got in trouble in the bottom of the ninth, Jesse Orosco got the last out for his 10th save.

The victory pulled the Mets to the .500 mark (22-22). They are only five games out of first in the East.

“This is the type of club right now that we had at the beginning of last season,” said Strawberry, who has hit five home runs in the last 12 games.

“We’re starting to get healthy and we’re winning some games. Pretty soon, we’ll be right where we want to be.”

Gooden, who spent the first month of the season in a drug rehabilitation clinic, is expected to make his first start June 5.

Cone, who has been one of the most impressive starters for the Mets, will be out for 6 to 8 weeks.

In addition to blowing the lead in the ninth, the Giants lost shortstop Jose Uribe. Uribe pulled a hamstring and was put on the disabled list for the third time, all because of hamstring problems.

Houston 7, Pittsburgh 2--Glenn Davis got off to a slow start this season, but he’s sizzling now.

The Astros’ first baseman went 3 for 4, including his 10th home run, and drove in five runs at Houston to give his team a sweep of the three-game series. In the three games, Davis hit a home run in each. He went 7 for 10 and drove in 9 runs.

Davis has hit safely in nine games in a row for a career high. He has 6 home runs, 5 doubles and 14 RBIs in the streak.

Nolan Ryan, as is often the case, pitched well without being involved in the decision. He gave up two hits and struck out seven in six innings. Relievers Aurelio Lopez (2-0) and Dave Smith struck out five more in the last three innings.

Chicago 4, Cincinnati 1--Brian Dayett singled in two runs in a three-run first at Cincinnati that sent former Dodger left-hander Jerry Reuss down to his third defeat without a victory.

Reuss pitched six scoreless innings after the shaky start, but it was too late.

Jamie Moyer (5-3) needed the help of three relievers to win.

Philadelphia 6, San Diego 4--Luis Aguayo led off the seventh inning with his ninth homer of the season and Greg Gross hit his first home run in nine years, leading the Phillies past the Padres at San Diego.

The Padres have lost five straight and are 11-37. At the present pace, San Diego is three games ahead of the 1962 New York Mets, who set a major league record for losses in a season with 120.