National League Roundup : Cone Gets Shutout, but No-Hit Jinx Continues

David Cone became the latest major leaguer to flirt with a no-hitter Sunday afternoon, holding the Philadelphia Phillies without a hit for 7 innings in the Mets’ 6-0 victory at New York.

Cone (8-1) finished with a 2-hitter, striking out 7 and walking 7. He retired 14 straight before hitting Phil Bradley with a pitch with one out in the eighth. One out later, Steve Jeltz lined a single just beyond diving shortstop Kevin Elster. In the ninth, Milt Thompson singled with one out.

Cone said he thought about the many pitchers this year who have come close to a no-hitter.

“It’s just so tough,” he said. “But when (Chris) James hit that hard line drive that whistled by my ear and (center fielder) Mookie (Wilson) caught it, I thought this might be my day.”

James’ liner was the first out of the eighth inning.

Cone was the 17th pitcher to take a no-hitter into the seventh inning this season. Seven have had no-hitters in the ninth, but none completed the feat.

The latest performance caused some to remember Father’s Day at Shea Stadium in 1964, when Philadelphia’s Jim Bunning pitched a perfect game against the Mets.

Darryl Strawberry hit his fourth home run in six games in the fourth inning to give Cone and the Mets a 3-0 lead.

San Francisco 5, Cincinnati 3--The Giants ended Jose Rijo’s eight-game winning streak, tops in the league this season, with the victory at Cincinnati.

Rijo (8-2) struck out 8 and walked 3 in 6 innings. The right-hander, who moved into the starting rotation June 8, had won eight in a row after losing his first decision in relief.

The Giants took a 4-0 lead in the third inning, scoring all four runs with two outs. The big hit was a bases-loaded double by Mike Aldrete that drove in three runs.

The Reds also released 31-year-old pitcher Mario Soto, who has been ineffective the past three seasons because of a sore arm.

Soto (3-7, with a 4.66 earned-run average), whose last victory was a month ago and was the 100th of his career, is in the last year of a guaranteed contract and will continue to be paid $1.2 million for this season.

“Mario’s last four or five starts have been horrible,” Manager Pete Rose said. “It was obvious he wasn’t getting the job done. Every time he made a mistake, batters hit it out of the ballpark.”

Houston 6, Atlanta 4--The Braves lost the game and also learned they will also be without first baseman Gerald Perry, the league’s leading hitter, for several games because of a minor shoulder separation suffered Saturday.

It first had been feared that Perry, who took over the batting lead by going 3 for 4 Saturday to lift his average to .332, might go on the disabled list. Perry, who injured the left shoulder diving back into second base on a pickoff play, will be examined again Tuesday to determine his status.

Sunday, the Braves led, 4-2, when the Astros struck for five consecutive singles in the eighth off losing pitcher Bruce Sutter (1-2). Houston scored three times in the inning and added another run in the ninth.

Astro shortstop Craig Reynolds had a home run, drove in three runs and scored the game winner.

Pittsburgh 3, St. Louis 2--Andy Van Slyke broke a 1-1 tie with two out in the eighth inning by doubling home Felix Fermin and R.J. Reynolds at Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh’s Bob Walk (8-4) outpitched Larry McWilliams (4-2), both of whom entered the game in the top 15 in ERA. Pirate reliever Jim Gott earned his seventh save by striking out Jose Oquendo with two Cardinals on base.

Chicago 9, Montreal 3--Andre Dawson had a home run, a triple and a double and drove in three runs at Chicago to lead the Cubs’ three-game sweep.