National League Roundup : Cone Beats Cardinals and Gives Mets Lift

When the New York Mets talked confidently of sweeping their three-game weekend series against the struggling St. Louis Cardinals, the only game they were concerned about was the one rookie David Cone was scheduled to pitch.

They figured their two aces, Ron Darling and Dwight Gooden, were certain to handle the slumping Cardinals and, if Cone, not long removed from the disabled list, won, they would be leading the East by 1 1/2 games.

On another rainy day in New York Sunday, it was Cone, a 24-year-old right-hander, who lifted the Mets’ spirits after they lost the first two games of the important series. Cone gave up only one earned run in 6 innings in a rain-delayed game in which the Mets hung on for a 4-2 victory, cutting the Cardinals’ lead to 2 1/2 games.

Only 21,285 fans watched the game, which started nearly two hours late because of rain and was halted for another hour and 40 minutes after Vince Coleman led off with a single.

When play resumed, Cone (5-3) turned in a solid performance that the Mets badly needed. New York had blown a three-run lead and was only one strike from victory before losing Friday night, and Gooden had lasted only two innings in an 8-1 defeat Saturday.

An error by first baseman Keith Hernandez enabled the Cardinals to score a run in the fourth, but a run-scoring triple by Kevin McReynolds got the Mets even in the bottom of the inning. A surprise squeeze by Gary Carter scored McReynolds and put the Mets ahead to stay.

The Mets knocked out Danny Cox with two more runs in the fifth. When Cone faltered after an error by shortstop Rafael Santana in the seventh, another rookie, Randy Myers, relieved him and struck out five in 2 innings.

Cone, who was obtained from the Kansas City Royals during spring training in exchange for catcher Ed Hearn, broke a finger in May after making the club. He came off the disabled list Aug. 12.

San Francisco 6, Cincinnati 1--While the race in the East is tight, the Giants are in the process of running away in the West.

With Kevin Mitchell hitting a home run and a double and driving in three runs, the Giants extended their lead to six games over the Cincinnati Reds. The Giants have 19 games left, 12 of them at home.

Giants Manager Roger Craig has been saying for the last month that his team was going to win the West. But he said he isn’t ready to claim the championship yet.

“We’re playing like a championship club,” he said. “We’re playing exceptionally well in all phases of the game, and we’re going out there every day with a lot of emotion.

“It’s a great feeling, but it’s not over. Nobody’s going to give it to us.”

The Reds, who led the division from May 29 until Aug. 19, won Friday to cut the Giants’ lead to four games, but played two listless games to fall six back. Since Aug. 1, the Reds are 16-24.

Manager Pete Rose refused to count his club out. “You never quit,” he said. “We haven’t been hitting, but I’m not going to say we’re playing for second. We could win four and the Giants lose four and be right back in it.”

San Diego 10, Houston 2--Rookie catcher Benito Santiago went 3 for 4 at San Diego to extend his hitting streak to 17 games as the Padres dropped the struggling Astros 6 1/2 games behind the Giants.

Carmelo Martinez hit a three-run home run for the Padres, and Randy Ready added a two-run homer.

Jimmy Jones (8-6) allowed six hits and pitched his second complete game to give the Padres a sweep of the three-game series.

Chicago 5, Montreal 2--Rick Sutcliffe was beginning to wonder if he would ever win another game.

He pitched a five-hitter at Chicago and won for the first time since July 28. He had failed to get a victory in seven consecutive starts.

The loss dropped the Expos into third place in the East, three games behind the Cardinals.

An error by Montreal second baseman Tom Foley led to two unearned runs in the third inning, and a mental lapse by shortstop Hubie Brooks contributed to two more Chicago runs in the fifth.

Pittsburgh 6, Philadelphia 1--Brian Fisher’s first pitch of the game for Pittsburgh at Philadelphia was hit for a home run by Juan Samuel. After that, the Phillies had only four more hits, and Fisher struck out a career-high 10 to even his record at 9-9.

The Pirates have won 7 in a row and 15 out of 18. They trail the fourth-place Phillies by three games.