National League Roundup : Mets Win a Pair; Magadan 5 for 5

It hasn’t been the best of seasons for Dave Magadan of the New York Mets.

Regarded as one of the best young players in an organization loaded with bright prospects, the 24-year-old Magadan is an outstanding hitter.

Unfortunately for him, the only positions he can play--first base and third base--are taken by Keith Hernandez, one of the best hitters in the game, and Howard Johnson, who is having a career year. As a result, Magadan hasn’t played much.

Magadan, who batted .336, .350, .309 and .311 in his four minor league seasons, is tabbed as Hernandez’s successor at first base. That’s nice to know, but he’d like to be playing now.

Before starting the second game of a doubleheader against the Houston Astros at Shea Stadium Friday night, Magadan had batted only 99 times in the Mets’ 95 games. He had just 12 at-bats, with one hit, in the last 27 games. In the last 46 games, he was 5 for 35 (.143).

He certainly made the most of his first start since June 26. Playing first base in place of Hernandez, he went 5 for 5, all singles, drove in a run and scored once to help the Mets win, 7-4. He’s the ninth major leaguer to collect five hits in a game this season.

In the opener, Sid Fernandez and Roger McDowell restricted Houston to six hits, and Len Dykstra singled in the go-ahead run in the fifth inning as the Mets beat the Astros, 5-2.

Tim Teufel drove in four runs in the second game, three coming on a home run in the third inning off Astro starter Bob Knepper. His sacrifice fly in the fourth built the Mets’ lead to 5-2.

The Astros scored twice in the fifth on Bill Doran’s RBI double and Glenn Davis’ RBI ground-out. But Johnson’s 23rd homer in the bottom of the fifth gave the Mets a 6-4 lead. Magadan’s fifth single drove in Mookie Wilson to make the score 7-4 in the eighth.

“I never had a five-hit game in pro ball,” Magadan said, “although I did have one in the College World Series (for Alabama against Arizona State in 1983). When Mookie got to second (in the eighth, after stealing) I was thinking I had to get him in. After I did it, then I thought, ‘I’ve got five hits.’ ”

Fernandez (10-6), who had not won since June 21, struck out seven and walked one. In his last four starts, he had three losses and a no-decision.

Nolan Ryan (4-12) lost his seventh straight decision, allowing two runs on four hits in five-plus innings. Ryan, who hasn’t won since June 12, has not completed any of his 20 starts.

Montreal 3, Cincinnati 2--Andres Galarraga drove in the tying runs and scored the winning run to help the Expos snap a three-game losing streak at Montreal.

Neal Heaton (11-4) got the victory, his first since June 23. The left-hander pitched 7 innings, giving up 6 hits and 1 earned run. He walked 1 and struck out 9.

Red starter Guy Hoffman (7-5) went seven innings and gave up just four hits--all in the second inning--and didn’t walk anyone.

Montreal scored all three runs in the second inning to take a 3-2 lead. Tim Wallach singled to open the inning and went to third on Hubie Brooks’ double. Both runners scored on Galarraga’s broken-bat, bloop single to left. Galarraga moved to third on a single by Mike Fitzgerald and scored on Heaton’s fielder’s choice.

Eric Davis hit his 28th homer in the first inning when the Reds took a 2-0 lead.

Philadelphia 11, Atlanta 5--Mike Schmidt and Juan Samuel each drove in three runs at Philadelphia as the Phillies (48-47) moved above .500 for the first time this season.

Bruce Ruffin (8-7) got the win despite allowing five runs and 10 hits in 5 innings. Relievers Michael Jackson and Jeff Calhoun each yielded only one hit over the final 3 innings. Jackson and Calhoun each pitched 1 innings.

Trailing 4-3, the Phillies batted around in the third inning for the second time in the game and took a 7-4 lead.

Pittsburgh 3, San Diego 2--Johnny Ray lined a two-out, two-run double in the fifth inning, and rookie right-hander Mike Dunne earned his third straight victory for the Pirates at San Diego.

Dunne (6-4) went seven innings and gave up seven hits while walking only one and striking out five. Rookie Brett Gideon worked the ninth for his second save.

San Francisco 4, St. Louis 3--Mike Aldrete’s run-scoring triple broke a fifth-inning tie, and Jeff Robinson allowed one hit in the final three innings for the Giants at San Francisco. The loss snapped the Cardinals’ four-game winning streak.