National League Roundup : Cubs Defeat Error-Prone Mets, 6-5

Ryne Sandberg’s smash off reliever Roger McDowell’s foot with two out in the eighth inning at Chicago scored two runs to lead the Cubs to a 6-5 victory over the New York Mets in a game marked by five Met errors, four in the fourth inning.

It was a day when nothing went right for the Mets. Outfielder Darryl Strawberry was fined $250 and kept out of the starting lineup when he arrived late at the ballpark for the second day in a row.

Strawberry appeared as a pinch- hitter with two out in the ninth inning and the tying run on base. He struck out.

Sandberg had better luck.

With one out in the eighth and the score tied, 4-4, Shawon Dunston, who had homered earlier, beat out an infield single off reliever Randy Myers (0-1).

Pinch-hitter Bobby Dernier greeted McDowell with a single to left, and both runners advanced on Gary Matthews’ ground out to first. Sandberg then hit a smash off McDowell, and the ball bounded into short right as both runners scored.

“It was a slider away,” McDowell said. “He hit a good pitch.”

Met Manager Davey Johnson brushed aside his team’s errors.

“I didn’t think they played that poorly,” Johnson said. “There were some bad hops in that field, some tough plays. I don’t think we did the things with the bat that we’re capable of doing.”

Philadelphia 3, St. Louis 2--Steve Bedrosian tied the National League record for saves in consecutive appearances, and Glenn Wilson and Juan Samuel each homered as the Phillies edged the Cardinals at Philadelphia.

Bedrosian has saves in each of his last eight appearances and 15 this season. Four other pitchers share the record--Clay Carroll, Bruce Sutter, Rich Gossage and Dave Smith.

The reliever came on in the eighth, replacing starter Bruce Ruffin (4-5), who allowed six hits. Bedrosian gave up one hit in his two innings.

The Cardinals’ Vince Coleman reached base for the 39th straight game and stole a base, making him 38 for 38 in career steals against Philadelphia.

Danny Cox (6-3) took the loss.

Pittsburgh 8, Montreal 1--Mike Dunne got his first major league victory, and Barry Bonds went 4 for 4 with three RBIs as the Pirates overwhelmed the Expos at Montreal.

Dunne (1-1), making only his second major league start, struck out four and walked four. The only run he allowed was unearned and came in the ninth inning after a two-base throwing error by second baseman Johnny Ray. Casey Candaele singled in the run.

Dunne also got his first career hit, a single to right that drove in a run.

Lary Sorensen (3-2) gave up six runs on six hits in one-third of an inning. Sorensen replaced Montreal starter Floyd Youmans, who left the game in the second inning with a strained back muscle.

San Francisco 10, Cincinnati 2--Will Clark drove in four runs with a homer and a double, helping left-hander Mark Davis earn his first win in six weeks as the Giants rolled to an easy victory at Cincinnati.

Clark hit a two-run homer in the second inning off rookie right-hander Pat Pacillo (1-2) and put San Francisco ahead, 8-1, in the sixth with a two-run double off Rob Murphy.

Clark, whose four RBIs matched his career high, is hitting .458 with 4 homers and 10 RBIs in his last 16 games.

Davis (4-4) allowed nine hits and struck out four for his first victory since April 26, snapping a streak of four losing starts. He retired 11 in a row over the middle innings en route to his first complete game victory since 1983.

Houston 1, San Diego 0--Danny Darwin and Dave Smith combined on a four-hitter, and Bill Doran drove in Alan Ashby with a third-inning groundout to give the Astros the win at Houston.

Darwin (3-4) allowed four hits, walked five and struck out five in 7 innings. Smith pitched 1 innings of perfect relief for his 11th save.