National League Roundup : Pirates Close In on Mets With Win

Rafael Belliard’s single in the fifth inning drove in the go-ahead run off Dwight Gooden and Mike Dunne, and two relievers combined on a five-hitter Monday night as the surging Pirates defeated the New York Mets, 2-1, in Three Rivers Stadium.

Dunne overcame 8 walks and 1 hit batsman in 6 innings to win for only the second time in his last six decisions. The Mets stranded 13.

The Pirates got their season-high fifth straight victory to close to within 3 1/2 games of the National League East-leading Mets.

The Mets, who have lost five of six, held a 10-minute postgame meeting.

“You look at our club and potentially it’s the best offensive club in the league, and we played that way the first third of the season,” Met Manager Davey Johnson said.

“The last 30 games our concentration level has been gone, and I wanted to get it off my chest.”

A crowd of 41,489 was the Pirates’ largest at home, except for season openers, since 44,481 saw them play the Cincinnati Reds on Aug. 20, 1983. The Pirates have sold more than 100,000 tickets for the three-game series.

Chicago 2, Philadelphia 1--At Chicago, Shawon Dunston hit a two-run homer to carry the Cubs to their third straight victory. The Cubs, who have won 9 of its last 12 games, are 6 six games behind the Mets in third place.

With the Cubs down, 1-0, Dunston drove a 2-and-2 pitch off the bottom of the left-field foul pole in the fifth inning for his eighth homer. Rick Sutcliffe (6-5) got the victory, giving up 9 hits, walking 3 and striking out 5 in 6 innings.

San Diego 9, Cincinnati 2--Manager Pete Rose forgot to inform umpires of a late lineup change, and as a result the Reds batted out of turn in the first inning to squelch a potential rally at Cincinnati. The Reds allowed seven runs in the second inning en route to their sixth straight loss.

Tony Gwynn hit a three-run homer to lead the seven-run inning, and former Red Dennis Rasmussen (6-6) got his fourth straight victory for the Padres, allowing 6 hits, striking out 3 and walking 3 in 7 innings.

The Reds’ Kal Daniels, who has a sore neck, was replaced just before the game, but Rose failed to inform the umpires of the change. Dave Collins and Chris Sabo batted second and third, respectively, but were ruled out of order. Eric Davis, scheduled to bat fourth, was called out.

San Francisco 10, Atlanta 9--The Giants scored five runs in the second inning and held on to beat the Braves at Atlanta in a game that produced 37 hits.

San Francisco’s Mike Aldrete had four hits, Kevin Mitchell had three hits--including a one-run home run--and Brett Butler also had three hits to lead a 19-hit attack.

The Braves’ Andre Thomas had five singles, his first five-hit game in the major leagues.

Montreal 6, St. Louis 3--Hubie Brooks hit a three-run homer with two outs in the 14th inning to lift the Expos to victory over the Cardinals.

Brooks’ homer came off Steve Peters (3-3), who had given up a homer in the 13th to Tim Wallach. However, Tom Brunansky homered off Jeff Parrett (6-2), the fifth of six Montreal pitchers, with two outs in the 13th to tie the score.

Bob McClure pitched the 14th to gain his second save.