National League Roundup : McReynolds Bails Out Mets in 11th; Pirates Fall Behind by 5 1/2

It has not been an outstanding season for Kevin McReynolds. It seems that almost every time the New York Mets’ left fielder has come up in a clutch situation this season, he has failed to deliver.

But McReynolds came through with the biggest hit of the season so far for the Mets when he hit an RBI single in the 11th inning Wednesday night at Pittsburgh to give the Mets an 8-7 victory.

A loss would have cut the Mets’ lead in the National League East to a 3 1/2 games. Instead, they return home with a 5 1/2-game lead and a five-game series against the slumping Houston Astros.

McReynolds, 18 for 75 with men in scoring position, lashed a single to left to drive in winning pitcher Roger McDowell, who hit a double off reliever Bob Kipper (1-2) with one out in the second extra inning.

It was a tough loss for the young Pirates. They were one out away from a 7-6 victory after wiping out a 4-1 deficit and knocking out David Cone, the league’s hottest pitcher.

Hard-throwing Jim Gott retired five consecutive Mets and needed only to get Howard Johnson for his 10th save. But Johnson, batting just .237, hit his 14th home run to tie the game.

McDowell kept the Pirates from winning in the ninth after Gene Walter walked the first two Pirates. McDowell pounced on John Cangelosi’s attempted sacrifice and got the force at third. Sid Bream hit a single to load the bases, but Mike LaValliere grounded into a force out at the plate and Rafael Belliard grounded out to end the threat.

Bobby Bonilla hit his 17th home run for the Pirates and Kevin Elster hit his second two-run home run in two games for the Mets.

San Francisco 7, Atlanta 2--Giants’ Manager Roger Craig, missing two of his starting pitchers, summoned Don Robinson out of the bullpen for this game at Atlanta.

The veteran right-hander, a starter early in his career, spent the last three years in the bullpen. But he held the Braves to two hits in six innings as the Giants swept the three-game series.

“I was hoping Robinson could give us five or six innings,” Craig said. “I expected him to give up a couple of runs, but figured we could score more. He delivered an outstanding job. He’ll go again Monday.”

Will Clark hit his league-leading 19th home run in the fifth inning. The Giants’ first baseman also leads in runs batted in with 62.

Robinson (3-1) made 31 relief appearances this season and 158 since his last start on Aug. 18, 1985. He gave up two-out singles to Dion James and Dale Murphy in the fourth.

Montreal 3, St. Louis 2--It’s a mistake to get the Expos in an extra inning game. Otis Nixon tripled off Todd Worrell to open the 10th inning at St. Louis and Herm Winningham followed with a sacrifice fly to give the Expos 10 victories in 13 extra inning games this season and a 22-4 mark in the last two seasons.

The Cardinals, who had only three hits, have lost 14 of their last 19 and have lost four extra-inning games in their last six.

Of some solace to the injury-riddled Cardinals was the return of Danny Cox, making his first start since April 29 because of elbow problems. Cox gave up just three hits and two unearned runs in five innings.

Both Cardinal runs were unearned.

The Cardinals, already missing two first basemen (Bob Horner and Jim Lindeman) with injuries, lost rookie Mike Fitzgerald, who was hit on the right wrist with a pitch in the third inning.

San Diego 3, Cincinnati 2--Owner Marge Schott didn’t make a pre-game pep talk at Cincinnati and the Reds’ winning streak ended at one game.

Eric Show (6-8) held the slumping Reds to four hits in 8 innings. Mark Davis struck out Kal Daniels and Paul O’Neill to get the save.

Tim Birtsas made his first start for the Reds. He gave up just three hits in six innings. Two walks set up a Padre run without a hit in the first inning and, in the fourth, Roberto Alomar hit a home run after a two-out walk.

The loss dropped the Reds 10 1/2 games behind the Dodgers in the West.

Philadelphia 4, Chicago 2--Steve Bedrosian made amends for failing to hold a two-run lead Tuesday in this game at Chicago.

With the potential tying runs on base in the ninth inning, Bedrosian retired Andre Dawson and Ryne Sandberg for his 13th save in 16 tries.

“I didn’t do anything different,” Bedrosian said. “I went right after Dawson and Sandberg and got two popups.”

Cub starter Calvin Schiraldi struck out 11 batters in six innings and had a 2-0 lead until the Phillies rallied in the seventh for three runs. Two of the runs scored after right fielder Dawson lost Bob Dernier’s fly ball in the sun and it went for a single.