National League Roundup : Strawberry, Gooden Help Put Mets Back on Winning Track

Although the season hasn’t reached the halfway point, the New York Mets have missed several opportunities to break open the National League East race.

Each time they have been in position to run off and hide, they have faltered.

It may be that Wednesday night’s victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates was just what the Mets needed. One strike away from having their division lead cut to 3 1/2 games, the Mets tied the game and won in the 11th inning.

The Mets increased their lead to 6 1/2 games Saturday night at New York as Darryl Strawberry hit his 20th home run and Dwight Gooden pitched a five-hitter in a 7-2 victory over the Houston Astros.

In beating the Astros for the third time in four games, the Mets made short work of what was supposed to be a pitching duel between Gooden (11-4) and Bob Knepper (8-2).

A walk and Strawberry’s two-out home run, his 11th homer against a left-hander, put Knepper behind early. He went 5 innings, giving up 6 hits and 5 runs. At the time Knepper departed, Gooden had not given up a hit.

An infield single in the sixth by pinch-hitter Gerald Young ended the no-hit bid.

“We’ve been worrying too much about the Pirates, Cardinals and Cubs,” Met outfielder Kevin McReynolds told Newsday. “As long as we win, can’t nobody do nothing about that. We should be about 10 in front and breezing.”

San Francisco 2, Pittsburgh 1--When the Giants scored 30 runs in three games at Atlanta, Manager Roger Craig said his team’s season-long hitting slump was over.

Maybe Craig forgot Atlanta is a hitter’s park and the Braves’ pitching staff isthe worst in the league.

Since returning to Candlestick Park, the Giants have managed just five hits in two games.

After Rob Thompson hit a two-run home run in the first inning Friday night, the Giants did not score again and lost, 5-2, in 10 innings. They went seven scoreless innings Saturday but won on a two-run wild pitch.

After pinch-hitter Ernest Riles opened the bottom of the eighth with a single, Pirate starter Doug Drabek was replaced by Dave Rucker, who walked Brett Butler. Barry Jones relieved Rucker.

After a sacrifice bunt, Will Clark was walked intentionally to load the bases. With the count 0 and 2 on Candy Maldonado, Jones uncorked a wild pitch. Riles and Butler both sped home when catcher Junior Ortiz couldn’t find the ball.

Philadelphia 5, Cincinnati 3--David Palmer lasted just long enough to win at Philadelphia.

Palmer, who injured his forearm June 21 when he tripped over third base, reinjured the arm on a 2-and-2 pitch to Jeff Treadway to open the sixth inning. Palmer (4-6) made one more pitch, which Treadway stroked for a single.

Steve Bedrosian worked 1 innings to earn his 14th save.

Atlanta 5, Montreal 4--Ron Gant hit a home run off Neal Heaton (2-6) in the 15th inning at Montreal to end the Braves’ six-game losing streak.

Tim Foley’s second home run of the game--and the season--tied the score, 4-4, in the ninth.

Andres Galarraga had five hits, including his 19th home run.

San Diego 7, St. Louis 5--The Padres spotted the Cardinals a 5-0 lead at San Diego, then stormed back to beat them for the second time in a row.

Garry Templeton’s two-run home run in the seventh tied the score. Later in the inning, Tony Gwynn singled in the go-ahead run.