National League Roundup : Reds’ Deep-Six Routine Beats Giants, 7-6

Opponents have found that no lead is safe this season against the explosive Cincinnati Reds.

For the second time in four games, the Reds overcame a 6-0 deficit Monday night, rallying to beat the San Francisco Giants, 7-6, at Cincinnati.

Dave Parker capped the comeback with a one-out, two-run single in the ninth inning, enabling the Reds to increase their lead over the second-place Giants to three games in the National League West.

The Reds, who erased a 6-0 deficit last Friday night in an 8-6 victory over the Dodgers, have rallied from 6-0 deficits to win four times this season.

They have come from behind in 18 of their 33 victories.

“We definitely have confidence,” center fielder Eric Davis said. “When we get down early, nobody gets down.”

The Reds trailed, 6-5, when Kal Daniels led off the ninth with a walk off Scott Garrelts (6-4) and moved to second on a sacrifice by Barry Larkin. Garrelts walked Davis, and Keith Comstock relieved Garrelts.

Parker, who extended his hitting streak to eight games with a two-run homer in the fifth, hit Comstock’s first pitch off the wall in center field, scoring both runners.

Davis, who almost overtook Daniels, slid as Daniels crossed the plate, beating the tag of catcher Bob Melvin, who disputed the call. Television replays showed that Davis beat the tag.

Parker watched from first base.

“After I got to first base, I kind of started cheering for Eric,” he said. “He was three steps behind Kal. I turned into a spectator, too.”

The Giants pounded struggling left-hander Tom Browning, scoring six runs on six hits in the first three innings, before the Reds rallied.

Buddy Bell had a run-scoring single in the fourth, and the Reds scored four more in the fifth on RBI groundouts by Daniels and Larkin and Parker’s 14th home run.

Montreal 7, Pittsburgh 1--Neal Heaton pitched a seven-hitter and drove in two runs at Montreal to beat the Pirates for his fifth straight victory.

“He’s become our stopper,” Montreal Manager Buck Rodgers said of Heaton (8-2), who was acquired in an off-season trade that sent relief pitcher Jeff Reardon to the Minnesota Twins. “He comes in and gives us a big game when we need it.”

The Expos, who snapped a three-game losing streak, have won nine of Heaton’s 12 starts.

Hubie Brooks and Tim Wallach homered in support of Heaton, who walked two and struck out three in joining the Dodgers’ Bob Welch as the NL’s eight-game winners.

Wallach hit a three-run homer in the seventh, giving him 50 RBIs.

“I have never had a season like this one,” Wallach said.

St. Louis 12, Philadelphia 8--Vince Coleman scored three runs and stole four bases as the Cardinals, off to their best start in 20 years, won at Philadelphia to improve their road record to 21-9.

Jack Clark drove in two runs with a double and his 17th homer, and Tommy Herr had three RBIs despite going hitless for the Cardinals, who improved the major leagues’ best record to 34-20.

Coleman, who has stolen successfully in his 37 career attempts against Philadelphia, has reached base in 38 straight games.

San Diego 5, Houston 4--Luis Salazar singled home the winning run with two out to cap a four-run eighth inning at Houston, giving the Padres their third victory in four games.

Salazar went 3 for 4 with a homer, a single and a double as the Padres improved the worst record in the major leagues to 15-43.

San Diego’s Craig Lefferts (1-2) worked the seventh inning, and Rich Gossage pitched two innings for his third save. Bob Knepper (2-7) lost his fifth straight start.

Randy Ready and Shane Mack led off the seventh with singles to put runners on first and second. Tony Gwynn grounded out to first as the runners moved up a base.

Carmelo Martinez hit a smash to Astro shortstop Craig Reynolds, whose throw over the Houston dugout allowed two runs to score. James Steels ran for Martinez at second. After John Kruk grounded out, Benito Santiago doubled home Steels. Santiago stole third and scored the game-winner on Salazar’s single.

Chicago 4, New York 2--Manny Trillo’s two-run homer with two out in the ninth inning gave the Cubs the victory at Chicago.

With two out, Dave Martinez singled and Trillo hit the next pitch from reliever Doug Sisk (1-1) into the left-field bleachers for his fourth homer of the season.

The Mets, held to six hits through eight innings by Cub starter Rick Sutcliffe and reliever Lee Smith, tied it with one out in the ninth. Kevin McReynolds singled, moved to second when Howard Johnson walked, and scored on Barry Lyons’ double to right.

The Cubs’ Keith Moreland homered for the third straight game and sixth time in seven games.