National League Roundup : Mets Lose to Expos’ Martinez, 5-4

Dennis Martinez of the Montreal Expos, aided by Andres Galarraga’s two-run home run in the fifth inning, beat the New York Mets for the fourth time this season, 5-4, Thursday night. The loss at New York dropped the Mets 3 1/2 games behind first-place St. Louis in the National League East.

Martinez (11-3) pitched five innings, allowing four hits, as Montreal moved within one-half game of the second-place Mets. Martinez won his fourth straight, and the Expos are 19-3 in the 22 games he has started since being acquired June 8.

The Mets narrowed the score to 5-4 in the ninth inning as Mookie Wilson singled, stole second and scored on Tim Teufel’s fourth hit of the game. Bob McClure came in and struck out Keith Hernandez, and after Darryl Strawberry walked, Randy St. Claire relieved McClure and walked Kevin McReynolds to load the bases.

But St. Claire got Gary Carter to end the game by grounding to third baseman Tim Wallach, forcing Strawberry.

St. Louis 3, Pittsburgh 2--The Cardinals reduced their magic number to seven as Willie McGee scored on Lance Johnson’s fielder’s choice with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning to cap a two-run rally at St. Louis.

Dan Driessen opened the St. Louis ninth with a single to right field off Jeff Robinson (8-9). McGee singled off the glove of second baseman Jose Lind to move pinch-runner Curt Ford to third, and Jim Gott relieved Robinson. Terry Pendleton then stroked a 3-1 pitch to left for a double, driving home Ford and sending McGee to third.

After John Morris was walked intentionally, Johnson grounded sharply to third baseman Darnell Coles, who tagged third base for an out but was on the ground and could not make a play on McGee.

Cincinnati 5, San Diego 4--Barry Larkin’s ground-rule double in the sixth inning at Cincinnati drove in Nick Esasky, snapping a 4-4 tie and lifting the second-place Reds back to .500 (76-76) and within seven games of the idle San Francisco Giants in the West. Both teams have 10 games remaining.

San Diego’s Benito Santiago hit safely in his 26th consecutive game to tie the modern major league mark for rookies, set by Guy Curtwright of the Chicago White Sox in 1943. Santiago’s infield single in the fourth inning also gave him the club record, topping Tony Gwynn’s 25 straight in 1983, and left him one shy of tying the all-time rookie streak. James Williams hit in 27 straight for Pittsburgh in 1899.

Atlanta 8, Houston 7--Dale Murphy’s run-scoring infield single with two outs in the ninth inning at Atlanta eliminated the defending West champion Astros from contention.

Murphy also had a two-run homer, his 42nd, and a run-scoring double to reach the 100-RBIs mark for the fifth time in six seasons.

Nolan Ryan pitched six innings for the Astros, striking out five to increase his major league-leading total to 251 in 197 innings.

Philadelphia 3, Chicago 2--Darren Daulton hit a home run to lead off the 11th inning, and Steve Bedrosian pitched three perfect innings for his fifth win in this game at Chicago.