National League Roundup : Cardinals Still Winless in New York

The Cardinals have yet to win in Shea Stadium this season, and Darryl Strawberry made certain that Wednesday’s contest would be no exception. Strawberry hit two home runs and had three runs batted in to lead the Mets to a 6-4 victory over the Cardinals--their sixth straight loss.

The Mets, who entered the series against St. Louis with a five-game losing streak, allowed only five runs in the three-game sweep. New York is 9-3 against the Cardinals this season, including 6-0 at New York.

Strawberry, who is 13 for 38 with 4 home runs and 9 RBIs against St. Louis this season, hit a two-run homer in the first inning and a solo shot in the fourth for his 15th homer. It was the 17th multiple-home run game of Strawberry’s career, and his second this season.

Ron Darling (7-4) pitched seven-plus innings for the victory, and Randy Myers finished for his 10th save. Chris Carpenter (2-2) took the loss.

Trailing 4-1 after four innings, the Cardinals rallied with two runs in the fifth on run-scoring singles by Steve Lake and Ozzie Smith.

The Mets scored in the fifth on Len Dykstra’s run-scoring single, to give Dykstra three hits in the game and 20 hits in his last 42 at-bats. He’s 16 for 31 against the Cardinals this year.

Dykstra’s bat, which was confiscated by the umpires Tuesday at the request of St. Louis Manager Whitey Herzog, was X-rayed by the National League officials, who found no evidence of tampering.

Cincinnati 5, Houston 3--Eric Davis hit a two-run homer in Riverfront Stadium’s third deck and Chris Sabo had three hits to give Tom Browning the victory in his first start against Jim Deshaies, his college teammate for three years at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, N.Y.

Browning (5-3), gave up seven hits and three runs in five innings, including bases-empty homers by Jim Pankovits and Bill Doran. John Franco got his seventh save, in the Reds’ season-high fourth straight victory.

Deshaies (4-4), got in trouble in the second inning when Dave Concepcion hit a single with one out and third baseman Pankovits made a wide throw to first on Browning’s sacrifice bunt for an error. Barry Larkin hit a single to score Concepcion. Browning scored on Dave Collins’ sacrifice fly.

The Astros then took their only lead when Glenn Davis followed Doran’s fourth-inning homer with a walk and Kevin Bass and Rafael Ramirez each hit singles.

Davis put the Reds ahead to stay with his ninth homer after Sabo hit his second double with two outs in the fifth.

Philadelphia 6, Montreal 2--David Palmer pitched a three-hitter through eight innings and the Phillies took advantage of three Montreal errors in the first inning to beat the Expos at Philadelphia.

Palmer (2-6), struck out six and walked one. That walk, leading off the ninth, prompted Manager Lee Elia to remove him in favor of Greg Harris. Steve Bedrosian recorded the last out for his ninth save.

Montreal starter Floyd Youmans (2-6), gave up only four hits in seven innings but was hurt by unearned runs in the first inning.

San Francisco 4, San Diego 2-- After his victory over the Padres, pitcher Rich Reuschel was asked to explain his 10-3 start this season. “All I can do is go out and do what I’ve been doing all along,” he said.

Reuschel’s sinker was effective against San Diego as the Giant pitcher scattered seven hits over 6 innings for his fifth straight victory. The loss ended the Padres’ winning streak at six games. Don Robinson earned his fifth save.

Andy Hawkins (5-6) went five innings, giving up all of San Francisco’s runs on five hits and four walks.

Chicago 7, Pittsburgh 4--Vance Law and Shawon Dunston each had two-run singles in the eighth inning to help the Cubs avoid a three-game sweep by the Pirates at Chicago.

Dunston had a career-high five RBIs, which came in four at-bats.

Reliever Pat Perry (3-2), was the winner, pitching the eighth, and Rich Gossage earned his ninth save for pitching a perfect ninth. Pittsburgh reliever Jim Gott (3-2) gave up the four runs in the eighth inning.