National League Roundup : Davis’ 2 Home Runs Give Maddux 8th Win

Jody Davis, involved in season-long trade rumors, hit two home runs Friday to lift the Chicago Cubs to a 3-2 victory over the Houston Astros at Wrigley Field.

“It (a trade) is still in the back of my mind. . . . I have a feeling I don’t belong,” the catcher said.

The Cubs have shifted their interest to younger players, and Davis, 31, has lost playing time at catcher to rookie Damon Berryhill.

One of the clubs reportedly interested in Davis was Houston.

Davis’ home runs provided Chicago with its second and third runs and helped make a winner of Greg Maddux. The right-hander, 6-14 last year, improved to 8-3 and tied the New York Mets’ Dwight Gooden for most victories in the National League.

Maddux walked two and struck out five. He entered the ninth with a 3-1 lead, having given up only three hits. But Gerald Young opened with a walk, and Billy Hatcher singled. Rich (Goose) Gossage came in and gave up a run-scoring single to Kevin Bass before retiring the side for his sixth save.

San Diego 2, New York 0--Mark Grant, winless in his four previous decisions, and Mark Davis combined on a four-hitter to shut out the Mets at New York.

The Mets became the last National League team to be shut out this season.

Grant (1-4) hadn’t won since pitching his only career shutout against Atlanta last September. He allowed 3 hits, struck out 4 and walked 3 in 6 innings as the Padres snapped an eight-game road losing streak. The Padres had lost eight straight to the Mets, including four in San Diego this month.

Cincinnati 5, Pittsburgh 3--Jeff Treadway hit two run-scoring doubles to lead the Reds past the Pirates at Riverfront Stadium.

Pat Pacillo (1-0), who pitched a scoreless fifth inning after starter Danny Jackson pulled his left hamstring running to first on a bunt, got the victory.

Rob Murphy and John Franco each went two innings. Murphy allowed the three Pittsburgh runs, and Franco pitched two hitless innings for his sixth save.

Philadelphia 5, San Francisco 2--Juan Samuel tripled home 2 runs and Kevin Gross allowed 6 hits over 8 innings at Philadelphia to help the Phillies end a four-game losing streak.

Gross (5-2) struck out 7 and walked 3. He lost his shutout in the eighth when Jeffrey Leonard singled home two runs. Steve Bedrosian retired one batter for his second save.

St. Louis 5, Atlanta 2--Bob Horner, playing in his first game in Atlanta as a visitor, hit a sacrifice fly to break a 2-2 tie in the eighth inning and give the Cardinals the win.

The loss spoiled the home debut of Russ Nixon, who replaced Chuck Tanner as Brave manager Sunday night.

Tom Brunansky started the Cardinals’ eighth with a single off reliever Jose Alvares (0-1) and went to third on Terry Pendleton’s single. Horner, who spent nine seasons with the Braves and was making his first appearance in Atlanta since 1986, drove in Brunansky with a fly to deep left.